Collaborations between globally recognized cartoon characters and emerging and established fashion designers have become ubiquitous, with new examples arising weekly. Most of the activity to date has been in the key territories of North America, U.K. and Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and Japan. But the practice is starting to gain a foothold in some […]
Archive | Fashion
Big-and-Tall: Plus-Size for Men
One of the fastest-growing areas for licensing in the women’s apparel industry over the past two years has been the so-called “plus-size” market, which has attracted designers such as Isabel Toledo, a raft of celebrities from Jessica Simpson to Melissa McCarthy, and TV properties such as Empire. The men’s equivalent, the “big-and-tall” market, keeps a […]
Creative Thinking
Fashion designers are increasingly stepping outside of their traditional realms of apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty, fragrance, dinnerware, bed and bath, and home décor. Many have been testing categories such as pet products and electronic-device cases, for example. Some ventures are virtually one of a kind, as is the case with these unconventional limited editions: Karl […]
Stepping Out
With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games ongoing in Rio de Janeiro, it seems like a good time to take a look at the Brazilian footwear business, an active participant in licensing. Shoe companies frequently enter into short-term collaborations (and some longer-term deals) with Brazilian and global properties, both for products sold in Brazil and those […]
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 […]
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, […]