Candy brands have long been participants in fashion collaborations, but they seem to be experiencing a particularly active period in this space these days. Designs tend to go all-in on prominently featuring the shapes, colors, mascots, and packaging associated with the IP, and the focus is largely—but not entirely—on accessories categories, in part because consumers […]
Archive | Accessories
Traveling in Style
Luggage and travel accessories partnerships have been a beneficiary of the travel industry recovery that has been ongoing since 2022. After a near-halt in new licensing and collaboration deals during the pandemic lockdowns, the category has become very active once again. Here are some of the deals, involving a variety of property types, that have […]
Considering ‘Condiment Couture’
The ongoing foodie fashion trend, in which luxury and other fashion designers integrate fast food, snack, and any number of food-related brands into capsule collections of apparel, accessories, and footwear, shows no signs of waning. One subset of this trend recently benefited from a spike in interest: namely, “condiment couture.” This mini-trend has typically taken […]
Seeing Things in a Different Light
For at least five years, eyewear manufacturers have been entering into collaborations for glasses that block blue UV light from computer and other device screens, and the frequency of deals has steadily grown over that time. This is especially true for initiatives involving gaming-related properties, whose fans not only spend a lot of time in […]
20/20 Vision for Licensed Eyewear
In some industries, licenses come and go, depending on property and product trends at any given time. An exception is the eyewear industry, especially the luxury component, where licensing is a consistent staple. Most deals are global and long-lasting, and contract renewals are in the news as much or more than new agreements. Here’s a […]
Accessorizing with Music
Last month, Fendi announced a deal with Devialet for a portable speaker. This is the latest in a series of speaker pairings between luxury fashion designers and electronics companies that has been ongoing since the mid-2010s and has intensified since 2021. While the configurations vary, the majority, especially recently, are portable and designed as fashion-forward […]
Bridal Brands Put a Ring On It
A number of wedding specialists—retailers, publications, gown designers—have been expanding their brands through licensing and collaborations. That includes the bridal jewelry category, a logical licensed brand extension if there ever was one. Each deal, at its core, focuses on engagement rings and wedding bands, but the collections typically also encompass other accessories such as earrings, […]
Clear and Compliant
A fashion trend was born when operators of sports contests, music festivals, concerts, and other big gatherings, due to security concerns, began requiring ticket holders to carry bags that were clear and limited in size, in lieu of traditional backpacks and purses, in order to gain entry. Enterprising designers, seeing sports and music fans replace […]
Is Now the Time for Smart Eyewear?
There was a period in the mid-2010s when many fashion and consumer electronics industry watchers thought smart glasses, especially paired with designer or other licenses to give them a stylish slant, would represent a growth category. But while some deals were done—Diane Von Furstenberg with Google Glass in 2014, for example—neither the category nor licensing […]
Soccer Vision Off the Pitch
At least three global soccer/football players have signed deals this year, two of them announced just this month, with makers of premium or luxury sunglasses, eyeglasses, and optical frames. This continues a tradition over the past decade or so where one or two current or past soccer stars, most commonly hailing from Europe and/or playing […]