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 […]
Archive | Fashion
Body-Positive Products
Licensors’ interest in the “plus-size” segment of women’s fashion is evolving. Initially, the activity was focused simply on forging the first deals extending into the larger sizes of the women’s apparel range, which had long been ignored. The category then began to transition to a more inclusive point of view, where licensors were lending their […]
Licensors Eye Ethnic Fashion
More and more designers, and some character licensors, are including apparel and accessories specific to particular ethnicities or religions among their roster of products. These items include the likes of saris and salwar kameez worn by Indian women; hijabs, abayas, and burkas for Muslims; and kimonos and yukatas for Japanese women and girls. Designers have […]
Designer Collaborations Down Under
Like designers all over the world, Australian fashion labels are collaborating with global character properties for limited editions and/or capsule collections. In the last six months, several such deals have been announced, crossing a variety of categories: Apparel. Leroy Nguyen launched a capsule collection of five items, from sweat tops to dresses, featuring Hello Kitty, […]
The Changing Landscape of Smartwatch Licensing
Licensing in the smartwatch and wearables sector is starting to evolve. In this segment’s early days, licensors typically have forged focused deals with consumer electronics or watch companies that specifically authorize the development and production of a line of smartwatches and/or other wearables. This tactic continues today. But announcements from this year’s Baselworld, a trade […]
Boxers or Briefs
Male athletes from a variety of sports have expanded their personal brands into the high-end underwear category. Athletes’ signature lines are attractive for companies in this sector, since they add credibility through their endorsement of the product’s performance characteristics or comfort, especially during active situations. And athletes’ toned bodies are good imagery for underwear advertising, […]
Getting Comfortable With Denim
Differentiation in the denim category can be difficult to achieve (through licensing or otherwise), compared to other sectors of apparel that allow for more variation and flexibility in terms of design and fabrics. In addition, there is significant and strong competition in this segment, both from denim brands such as Levi’s and Wrangler and from […]
Pro Athletes’ Goal: Menswear Deals
Through social media, television exposure, and paparazzi pictures, many major league athletes have become known for their fashion sense off the field. As a result, several current and former athletes have entered the men’s apparel category, mostly through direct-to-retail licensing deals and often with a focus on tailored suits and related accessories: Former NFL defensive […]
More Fashion Options for Your Pet
The pet products category has seen a recent bump in activity tied to celebrity-driven fashion and lifestyle brands. Notable names entering or announcing their entrance into the market over the past six months include: Ellen DeGeneres, who licensed Posh Paws for a line of pet accessories under her ED lifestyle brand, which also has deals […]
Sleeping with the Enemy
Two specialty apparel retailers, Oasis and The Limited, have added their names this year to the ever-growing stable of retail chains embarking on outbound licensing programs. Oasis, a U.K. fashion retailer with 300 stores in the U.K. and Ireland and 79 elsewhere, retained Golden Goose as its licensing agent last month. It already has licensees […]