 In 1995 they licensed the rights for eyewear in the US to Swan International Optical, and then opened a US office in September 1997.However, the strategy of their licensee, Stephen Budd, to sell the brand into US department stores didn't work out so in 1999 they announced a plan to open a New York store once again.The initial plan was to open in time for Christmas 1999, but the store on lower Broadway finally opened its doors in June 2001.