When we last wrote about face masks as a licensing opportunity, about a month ago, licensors’ and licensees’ activities in this space were almost purely charitable, with the products donated directly to healthcare workers. But manufacturers and IP owners have pivoted quickly to creating masks for consumers to purchase. There is still a charitable component—with […]
Archive | Accessories
Cover Your Mouth
After first saying cloth facemasks were not effective in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now encouraging Americans to wear masks whenever they are in the presence of other people, outside of those with whom they are self-isolating. Governments in Europe and other parts […]
Data Protection
With today’s ever-present worries about credit card fraud and identity theft comes a relatively new product category: Protective RFID-blocking wallets, bags, and contactless protector cards. These items are positioned as creating a barrier against RFID skimming, which is when criminals steal information from the increasing number of credit cards, drivers’ licenses, passports, and so on […]
Vision Quest
In these days of collaborations, limited editions, and other in-and-out programs, it is sometimes easy to forget that long-term, traditional licensing deals are still going strong, especially in certain sectors. A case-in-point: eyewear. Collaborations and limited programs exist in this category as well, of course. But properties such as fashion, lifestyle, and luxury brands, among […]
Head First
The head seems to be the new center of social expression when it comes to showing one’s love for an entertainment property, as all manner of headwear features eye-catching, sculptural representations of favorite characters: Plush hoods and hats. Companies such as Elope feature plush headwear with representations of characters including Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ The Grinch […]
Checking the Time
The fashion watch category has been experiencing some significant challenges, thanks in large part to the fact that smartphones have replaced wristwatches as many consumers’ primary tool for keeping track of time. In one illustration of the issues facing the industry, exports of watches from Switzerland—the source of many higher-end, fashion-driven watches—declined 10% in February […]
Trendy Threads
Of the more than 1,600 labels exhibiting at eight women’s fashion shows at the Javits Center last week—the largest being Coterie, focusing on contemporary apparel, accessories, and footwear—roughly 10% are involved in licensing as a licensor, licensee, or both, as estimated by RaugustReports. Labels with a presence across the co-located events included well-established examples such […]
Smart, Chic, and Strategic
The fall season has seen a flurry of activity in the wearables sector, focusing on both fashion and fitness and encompassing not only watches and bands but also eyewear, belts, and apparel. Some of the deals have centered on upping the fashion quotient. Hermès partnered with Apple for a Hermès edition of the Apple Watch, […]
Faux-Leather Fashion
Fashion and celebrity labels are increasingly forging licensing deals for “vegan leather” handbags and footwear, in which the items look like leather but are made from substitutes such as microfibers or PVC plastic. A case in point: Just this week, the Carlos Falchi brand signed a deal with Accessory Headquarters (AHQ) for a handbag collection […]
Gold Rush
The jewelry category has been a particularly active one in recent months, with a diverse roster of licensors signing deals for necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other fashion and fine baubles. In the fashion/costume sector, examples in the past half year alone have included models (Kim Alexis with Royal Items), candy brands (Jelly Belly with O […]