US apparel label Guess, operating approximately 300 stores in Europe and North America, is diversifying into new products including accessories and shoes. The company has granted a footwear license to a US company Marc Fisher LLC for the production and distribution of athletic and fashion footwear to “realize the great potential of the Guess brand in the worldwide footwear market”.

The deal, which will run for 10 years and includes a renewal option, enables Marc Fisher, a long-standing former executive at Jones Apparel-owned footwear company Nine West and son of Nine West co-founder Jerome Fisher , to launch the line of Guess footwear in fall 2005.

“With the selection of Marc Fisher as our partner for this licence, we are taking an important step in expanding the presence of Guess footwear both domestically and globally,” said Guess’s co-Chief Executive Officer, Paul Marciano.

Guess generated approximately $75 million with accessories during 2004.