St. John said that it has signed a multiyear license agreement for production and worldwide distribution of a sunglass and prescription eyewear collection, which will sell exclusively in St. John boutiques for spring.
The brand will launch globally for wholesale in May at the MID trade show in Milan. The frames will retail for $200 to $500.
According to WWD, the beverage brand is launching the Pepsi Clothing women’s line for spring, following a fall 2006 men’s launch. The women’s line will add a juniors bent to the urban angle of the men’s collection, which capitalizes on Pepsi’s music ties and is sold exclusively in urban specialty stores.
The women’s lineup includes active wear, denim, tops and outerwear, wholesaling from about $12 to $50.
A decade ago, Pepsi created Pepsi Stuff, a line of T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, jackets and other items, promoted with TV commercials featuring Cindy Crawford and Shaquille O’Neal.
Both the women’s and men’s lines are designed by Christopher “MC Handz” Rogers. The men’s line is already in 200 doors, and women’s could be in up to 1,000 within a year, capitalizing on many of the men’s stores while adding junior specialty stores and department stores. It’s also sold at pepsistyle.com.
Columbia Sportswear Co. is fetching a spot in the pet-care arena, signing a deal for a line of products aimed at outdoor consumers. The collection features coats and accessories for dogs, as well as a neoprene vest for hunting dogs.
Features of the inaugural line include technical outdoor fabrics with durable construction and reflective piping for increased safety.
The new products will be available during the third quarter of 2008.
The tide of fashion brands appearing on mobile phones looks set to surge with at least five more promised from the makers of the Levi’s phone, which launches at Carphone Warehouse in two weeks.
The company behind the Levi’s phone has agreed to a deal with Tag Heuer for the beginning of 2008, and a deal with a surf brand.
It comes on the back of a two-week period of tie-ups between Samsung and Giorgio Armani, Alcatel and bag maker Mandarina Duck, and HTC and Ted Baker. Manufacturers are attempting to integrate iconic design and features on phones that are associated with the fashion brands.
The Tag Heuer phone will only be sold through the current Tag Heuer distribution channels, alongside the company’s watches.
Designer-branded handsets are becoming increasingly popular with retailers to give them a point of difference.
Wie WWD hier berichtet, bringt Armani in Kooperation mit Samsung ein Mobiltelefon auf den Markt.
Mit beidem will Armani sein Angebot in den Bereichen Lifestyle und Home erweitern.
Das Telefon kommt im November in Europa auf den Markt, der Fernseher im Januar 2008.
Die Distribution erfolgt über das Armani Netzwerk und gehobene Elektronikläden. Der Preis liegt bei 650 Euro.
Armani folgt damit anderen Modemarken. So kooperiert Prada mit LG Electronics, Dolce & Gabbana mit Motorola und Versus ebenfalls mit Samsung.
Alle setzen darauf, dass heute ein Mobiltelefon ebenso Image-bildend ist, wie eine Uhr oder eine Sonnenbrille.
