どうやら4年ほど前にこのあたりはすべて和解し、現在は再びY.P.Iというブランドでコラボレーションを始めるに至っています。Porter Internationalのホームページから少し引用してみましょう。
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Following extensive discussions and meticulous negotiations, PORTER INTERNATIONAL and YOSHIDA & CO., LTD., two independently operating brands, announce today they will join forces to establish a dual-brand strategic alliance to enter the retail market in 2010. This July, Y.P.I. (Yoshida Porter International) concept store, will debut in Tiger City, Taichung, showcasing high quality Japan-made products by YOSHIDA & CO., LTD., and fashion forward Taiwan-made products by PORTER INTERNATIONAL.
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The Y.P.I. concept store will realize the philosophy of “seeking differences, seeking similarities”by unifying both brands’strengths and resources to expand to overseas markets.
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In the future, market management for PORTER will no longer be a single-fought battle. Instead, the dual-brand strategic alliance will utilize competitive strengths from both brands to target selective markets outside of Taiwan and Japan. The team will be in its best position to venture into the future.
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ちなみに以前は、LUGGAGE PROSが国際出荷できなかったのはたしかTUMI, VICTORINOX, KIPLINGぐらいだったと思うのですが、現在はTUMI, VICTORINOX, SAMSONITE, ADIDAS, KIPLING, TAYLORMADE, THE NORTH FACE, ZERO HALLIBURTONと、購入できない種類が増えています。つまり検討に挙げていたSAMSONITEは今ではLUGGAGE PROSから直接購入できなくなっていたのです。