The 42-year-old French designer, who signed the deal on January 2, was first approached three months ago by La Perla management to design the Touch Grigio Perla line. According to Faret, it will be his responsibility to orient the style direction for the line, whose name may be subject to change in the future. From its current incarnation as a selection of intimates and swimwear, the developed men's line will feature both casual and formal wear and accessories.

Faret describes the La Perla management team at the family-run business, headed by president Alberto Masotti, as "very nice people," and is currently signed on "for a minimum of three seasons with the possibility of two more years." He explains that, "After hiring Alessandro they thought it was interesting to have someone French with a different point of view."

During the men's shows in Milan next week the first fruits of the expanded Grigio line will get showroom exposure. Naturally, due to his recent hiring, Faret has not had much input on this "test collection." According to Faret, the initial line's reception will dictate how the first full collection, for spring 2004, is presented in June.

Faret himself, based in Paris, has had his own men's line since 1998, which he showed for the first time in 1999. Preparing now to open the official round of men's shows in Paris on Friday, January 24, he describes himself first and foremost as a men's wear designer, and is indecisive on the topic of producing women's clothing. "Not yet, but maybe some day. We'll see," he says.

With a background in fashion - his father and grandfather operated an apparel manufacturing operation - it seemed inevitable that Faret would one day be in the business. He cut his teeth in fashion when the family firm bought the Jacques Fath label (now owned by France Luxury Group) in 1983. Since launching his own label he has concentrated on Europe and Asia, and his only stockists in the US are Jeffrey in New York and Macys in San Francisco. He also designs a widely distributed men's range for a licensee in Japan, which he considers a very important market.