Gant has taken direct control of its China business, after a 16 year partnership between owner MF Brands Group and former exclusive distributor Langhao Holdings, according to a Forbes China report.

The exchange in control of Gant’s operations in China was long planned; Longhao and Gant had agreed to the transfer back in 2019, but it only came into effect this year.

Gant said it will continue to build its China business on the foundation laid by Langhao. The brand’s presence in the world’s largest fashion market includes 83 stores, flagships on both Tmall and JD.com, as well as a WeChat store. In 2021, Gant plans to open new China stores in five key cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Hangzhou.

The US retailer joins a cohort of other international brands, including luxury menswear label Canali, that have taken direct control of their China operations recently.