Kering, the parent company of luxury brands such as Gucci and Saint Laurent, has announced a joint venture with Tomas Maier to collaborate on the business development of the Tomas Maier brand. Maier will continue as creative director of Bottega Veneta, a position he has held since 2001, and will also serve as creative director of his own brand. The Tomas Maier brand was founded in the United States in 1997. It offers swimwear, knitwear, and jersey items with simple, luxurious designs. The brand has its own stores in the luxury resort areas of Palm Beach and East Hampton, and its products are sold in department stores worldwide. Born in Germany in 1957, Maier studied fashion at La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (Syndica) in Paris. He then gained experience at Guy Laroche, Sonia Rykiel, and Hermès. In the same year that Bottega Veneta became part of the Gucci Group, he was appointed creative director of the brand. The Gucci Group became part of PPR (now Kering) in 2004.