Always In Fashion

Taking a look at recent iconic fashion and apparel brand collaborations

Jo Edwards, Head of Global Licensing, TSBA Group said: “We are delighted to have partnered Mallet and TfL to create this collaboration. The design aesthetic, using iconic TfL assets, is taken from product through to highend packaging and beyond to a multi-channel marketing campaign all of which celebrates the brands’ connections with London.”

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager

at TfL, says: “Seeing how Mallet, a proud London-born brand, is using our iconic Tube map in their designs, shows how innovatively our heritage and assets can be used to give consumers a new way to represent this wonderful city.

This year we are celebrating both the 90th anniversary of the map and the 160th anniversary of the opening of the Tube, and it’s in designs like these trainers that we can see how the Tube is an essential part of life in London.”

Authentic agreement

Authentic Brands Group

(Authentic) has announced a partnership with GCE International, a leading consumer goods design, development and manufacturing company for branded dress furnishings. Through the agreement, GCE International will design and manufacture neckwear, handkerchiefs and pocket squares for Van Heusen, Izod, Arrow, Geoffrey Beene and Eagle. The collections will be distributed under MMG, a division of GCE International.

“We are excited to partner with MMG, a company that has designed and produced quality dress furnishings for over 100 years, to further expand our branded menswear offerings for these classic brands,” said Scott Orenstein, Vice President, Heritage BrandsLifestyle at Authentic. “MMG’s expertise in this key category helps to build a well-rounded lifestyle offering for these classic American heritage brands.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Authentic to develop premium neckwear and accessories collections for Van Heusen, Izod, Arrow, Geoffrey Beene and Eagle,” said Thomas Kroner, Division President at MMG. “Uti- lizing our strength in design, wholesale and retail, our aim is to expand on each brand’s rich heritage with product that will further its presence in the marketplace.”

Art is fashion

Nicole DeCamp, a prolific artist who designs and licenses her work to retailers and product manufacturers worldwide is set to debut 8 fabric collections with her new licensing partner Benartex in 2023.

“It’s an exciting time as I dive into the sewing world and I can’t wait to see how this long term partnership with Benartex grows over time. Benartex is a beloved staple in the world of fabric and I can’t wait to see where this takes us. I am blessed to have partnered with such a great company and their team has been so supportive of me and my work.” says Nicole. She is represented by Sagebrush Fine Art.

George Davies returns to UK

At Pure London which took place in mid-February, visotirs saw the debut of a new brand from the retail legend behind Next, George at ASDA and PER UNA at Marks & Spencer, GWD by George Davies. GWD marks a return to the UK for fashion extraordinaire Davies. The brand, which is an abbreviation of Davies’ full name has two successful years under its belt as a cutting-edge fashion brand trading in the Middle East and specialising in womenswear and childrenswear. Triumphant sales and worldwide demand has prompted the decision to bring GWD to the UK market, with a fresh and edited range for the British customer.

Davies is an icon of UK retail and widely acknowledged as the most successful fashion innovator and designer of his time. Davies is credited for paving the way for many brands to flourish by changing the retail landscape with the launch of brand Next, followed by George at ASDA and PER UNA at Marks & Spencer.

GWD Director Clare Holmes says, “Travelling around the world has been key to the success of George’s brands, both in terms of sourcing manufacturers and design inspiration. Spending time in European countries, particularly Italy, combines his passion for travel and adoration of fashion. George immerses himself in fashion houses and the retail environment, to forecast upcoming trends which we know will suit the GWD Woman most favourably. He works closely with his team of designers to gather all inspiration and produce the best collections for our customer. One of his key sayings is ‘Retail is Detail’. This also applies when we’re creating the collections, it’s the small details in the garments that continue to excite us and make a difference.”

Olympia and Olympia

Olympía of Greece—also known as Princess Olympía of Greece and Denmark - is a prom- inent socialite, fashion model and the eldest daughter of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece and Marie-Chantal Miller. In her first clutch bag curation for label Olympia Le-Tan, she has embodied her fun-loving personality, joyful energy and impeccable taste in fashion. It’s also an ode to her love of bags and mixology, with each limited-edition clutch featuring one of her four favorite cocktails: Bloody Mary, Dirty Martini, Spicy Margarita and Old Fashioned. Olympía of Greece has always loved the Olympia Le-Tan® brand:

“I’ve always had such admiration for Olympia Le-Tan® as a brand and absolutely love how much time and detail goes into each and every bag; they are a work of art. I leave mine out for display. I knew they would allowme to make my bags super personal and fun and I wanted to create a collection that would appeal to everyone while still containing a piece of me. I believe this collection and the next do just that.” said Olympía of Greece.

The partnership between the two Olympias (the brand and the princess – incidentally, a serendipitous coincidence of names) will continue into 2023 with three other collections: Athens Owl, Gentlemen Prefer (Platinum) Blondes, and Can I Have a Doggy Bag, inspired by Olympía of Greece’s dog, Eccho.

70 Years to Celebrate

Laura Ashley, one of the world’s best-loved home and lifestyle brands, is celebrating its platinum anniversary with new seasonal ranges, limited-edition products and designer collaborations. The anniversary year will see the brand unveil exclusive fashion collaborations throughout the year.

Carolyn D’Angelo, Senior Managing Director, Brand Operations, Gordon Brothers & President, Laura Ashley Global, says: “We are celebrating Laura Ashley’s 70th year with an appreciation for our history as well as a clear strategy for continued growth in the US and beyond. From partnering with key retailers to expanding distribution with designer fashion labels, we’re affirming our status as a global lifestyle brand.”

80’s Legends

UK based sports and lifestyle distribution firm Focus Brands has announced the launch of a new collection from Italian sportswear brand ellesse, featuring the art of Keith Haring.

Part of the brand’s AW23 range, this collection is a fashion fusion of ellesse’s classic fits with Keith Haring’s instantly recognisable art, bringing together two 80s legends.

Iconic surf

The iconic California lifestyle brand Hang Ten is back on the European licensing scene, having appointed Plus Licens as its European licensing agent.

Founded in 1960 in Seal Beach, California, by surf legends Duke Boyd and Doris Moore, Hang Ten has since represented the surf lifestyle of the West Coast all around the world. More than just a brand, Hang Ten became synonymous with the lifestyle in the 60s, earning a place in mainstream culture through exposure in magazines and TV shows.

Today, the surfing lifestyle has extended beyond the surfing community to become a mainstream, popular lifestyle.

Hang Ten itself is a surfing maneuver where the surfer stands at the edge of the surfboard with the toes curled over, performing a so-called “nose ride”.. “The classic range of board shorts, shirts, and other accessories from Hang Ten has come to symbolize the surf-centric lifestyle of the West Coast all over the world. Hang Ten’s vision is to be a globally diversified brand. We’re excited to partner with Plus Licens to help the brand establish a strong European presence across multiple categories,” says Marc Setton, CEO.