The $ 80 mn (euro 67.4m) American Apparel Inc., the US T-shirt maker known for its anti-sweatshop policies, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Italian clothing distributor Wp Lavori in Corso for the distribution of American Apparel T-shirts in Italy.

The vertically-integrated, Los Angeles-based company plans to use Italy as the springboard for expansion in the rest of Europe, where it presently operates only in the UK.

In Italy, Bologna-based Wp Lavori in Corso will distribute American Apparel T-shirts to retailers, but will also sell the merchandise in its own Wp stores. The company also holds the licence to distribute brands such as Woolrich, Hang Ten and Barbour in Italy.