In Brief: Hutton to Hilfiger … Briefly Speaking

HUTTON TO HILFIGER: Rodney Hutton has joined Tommy Hilfiger Corp. as senior vice president, general merchandise manager. He will manage the newly acquired Karl Lagerfeld businesses. Most recently he was with Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani, where he was vice president of merchandising for men’s. Hutton reports to Ann Acierno, president of new business development at Hilfiger. Acierno also oversees the H business, which is headed by Michele Parsons, senior vice president, general merchandise manager of the women’s and men’s H line. BRIEFLY SPEAKING: Levi Strauss & Co. is building on its Signature business in Europe. The San Francisco jeans giant on Thursday said it had inked a licensing deal to introduce underwear and socks for women and men under its low-cost Signature brand. The products will be designed, produced, marketed and distributed by Delta Galil Industries Ltd., a $580-million company based in Israel that manufactures apparel for such retailers as Carrefour and Wal-Mart. The products will be distributed in France, Germany, the U.K., Switzerland and Austria starting this fall.