The Style Sisters continue mission to organise the nation in Hunter Price International partnership

Hunter Price International has teamed up with Gemma Lilly and Charlotte Reddington, aka The Style Sisters, to develop and launch the pair’s debut collection of storage and organisation solutions. The deal has been marked as the latest step in the duo’s mission to help the nation ‘live an organised and stylish life.’

With a passion for fashion and interiors and over 15 years’ working in the industry, the Style Sisters have been revamping high profile celebrity homes for the past few years. While documenting their successful projects, Lilly and Reddington have garnered a growing fanbase of style hungry followers.

Hunter Price will be working closely with the Style Sisters to create a range of adaptable and affordable storage products which represents the pair’s signature style. The collection aims to help people create unique interiors catered to their needs, from wardrobe organisation to kitchen, bedroom and playroom solutions.

Jeremy Winburn, commercial director at Hunter Price, said: “Storage and organisation has been a hero category for Hunter Price for some time – we’re now taking this to the next level by partnering with a duo with real authority in this space.

“Gemma and Charlotte are the best in the business, so it’s a dream collaboration for us to work together and create an offering we can all be proud of.”

After signing with Hunter Price, Lilly said: “It was a natural step for us to develop our own unique collection of products which we feel can fill a gap in the market for functional, yet beautifully designed storage & organisation solutions.

“Working on so many amazing projects over the years, we have a really good understanding of how to maximise and manage spaces all around the home – but what’s sometimes been missing is that style element – so we’re looking forward to adding our own unique style on all of our products.

Reddington continued: “We’re really looking forward to collaborating with Hunter Price to bring our Style Sisters brand to market – it’s such an exciting time and we can’t wait to share more about this journey as the project progresses.”

Francesca Lisle, MD at Lisle Licensing, licensing representative for The Style Sisters, said: “We are delighted to be working with Hunter Price on this project. Organisation and storage will be the key foundation to the licensing programme for the Style Sisters and we are so excited to see this category come to life.

“The team at Hunter Price has been working hard to develop an innovative and unique range that will really cement the launch of this brand. Gemma & Charlotte are truly leading the way in home styling and this is a natural next step in their journey.”

The first Style Sisters storage and organisation collection will hit retailers for Spring/Summer 2022.

TSBA Group signs five year deal with American Golf to launch new range inspired by The Open

The TSBA Group has singed a five year partnership with American Golf to design and exclusively retail an officially licensed range of products inspired by The Open.

The core product range will include apparel – designed under American Golf’s Stromberg label – for men, women and children including polos, shorts, trousers, and waterproofs, as well as high-tech golfing accessories and equipment including tees, golf bags, luggage, and trolleys.

The range will officially launch in 2022, coinciding with The 150th Open and will feature designs celebrating the milestone in the Championship’s history. Since The R&A held the first tournament in 1860, The Open has seen more than 120 golfers lift the coveted Claret Jug after facing the challenges of The Open’s links courses.

The official range will be available exclusively via American Golf’s 96 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, along with its online store, and has been designed to appeal to golfers at every level.

Jo Edwards, head of global licensing at TSBA Group said: “We are delighted to have secured this long-term partnership between American Golf and The R&A. One of the key objectives of the licensing programme is to make The Open accessible to all, 365 days of the year; American Golf’s significant retail presence will help us in this goal with a range of The Open apparel, accessories and equipment for every golfer.”

Gary Favell, CEO at American Golf, added: “Partnering with The R&A on a new range of apparel, accessories and equipment for The Open is incredibly meaningful for us. 

“This range will provide golfers of every level with the kit intended to make them feel like they’re stepping out to play at the Open Championship – affordable without compromising on quality, we will ensure that we are behind every golfer.”

Banijay Brands cooks up MasterChef condiments with Baxters

Banijay Brands has cooked up a tasty new partnership with the food manufacturer, Baxters to develop a range of branded marinades, dressings, and table sauces for the popular cooking IP, MasterChef.

The new deal – covering the UK and Eire, the Nordics, Benelux, Germany, Czech Republic, and the Middle East – will see the MasterChef food products land at retail later this year. It will also partner with previous MasterChef UK champions Ping Coombes, Thomas Frake, and Saliha Mahmood Ahmed to feature the winning chefs on the packaging.

Each of the champions will vouch for their ‘Champions Choice’ of products, and create bespoke recipes and tips on how to best use these.

Grown over 150 years and four generations, Baxters sits on shelves around the world. The collaboration with Banijay Brands has produced an exciting array of products that stay true to the ethos of MasterChef, giving home cooks the ingredients to transform their dishes from ordinary to extraordinary.

Alice Bernardi, director of international brand licensing at Banijay Brands, said: “With food being such an integral element of MasterChef, it was extremely important for us to find the right partner; with the experience, retail presence, and most of all, passion, for the brand.

“We’ve found all of these elements in Baxters Food Group, and we are confident that together we will bring a product range to consumers that will surprise and delight everyone.”

Matthew Bowler-Jones, European sales director at Baxters Food Group, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Banijay Brands to launch this innovative new range of condiments. Combining both companies’ passion and strength in food and flavour is sure to be a recipe for success.”

Created by Franc Roddam, MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format with 63 local adaptations, broadcast in over 200 countries and watched by more than 300 million people globally. MasterChef has a digital footprint of more than 34 million fans totalling in excess of 4 billion views across YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

The MasterChef brand extends into huge range of commercial activities across consumer products, experiential, publishing, and digital.

British artist Charlotte Posner to release summer collection with UK fashion brand Never Fully Dressed

The British contemporary artist, Charlotte Posner has landed a new partnership with the UK fashion brand, Never Fully Dressed to launch a summer collection featuring her own hand-drawn illustrations across a range of satin dresses, wrap tops, Jaspre skirts, and organic t-shirts.

The collection will be launched this month and available in stores and online at neverfullydressed.co.uk, the result of a partnership brokered by Charlotte Posner’s UK agency, WildBrain CPLG.

Jennifer Gould, brand and retail manager at WildBrain CPLG, said: “With their use of vibrant colours and versatile styles, Never Fully Dressed is the ideal partner to kick-off our design-led licensing programme for Charlotte Posner. The collection perfectly utilises Charlotte’s unique artwork and has resulted in a wonderful and timeless range.”

Lucy Aylen, founder of Never Fully Dressed, said: “The Never Fully Dressed x Charlotte Posner collaboration was born in 2020, a year where we were in some lights starved of creativity, fashion and fun. Charlotte’s fun prints offer escapism featuring extravagant, glamorous scenes showcased through her beautiful art. We hope our customers can live through the prints whilst feeling fabulous and fun when wearing.”

Posner’s style and popularity exploded onto the public scene in 2014 when she was featured as part of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and was profiled on the BBC’s The Culture Show. The artist has since collaborated with some of the world’s leading luxury brands and retailers, including Brown Thomas, Louis Vuitton, Nicholas Kirkwood, Crème de la Mer, London Fashion Week, and Japanese cosmetics brand Shiseido.

Meanwhile, Never Fully Dressed grew from a range of customised clothing the company’s founder, Lucy Aylen, sampled from her parents’ attic to sell at Portobello Road and Spitalfields markets, and soon developed into a successful online business with a permanent store in the brand’s native Essex.

The brand looks to promote positive dressing by showcasing multi-wears, styling tips and innovative fashion designs to its social community. Never Fully Dressed is also aiming to improve its sustainably journey starting with its pre-loved platform, as well as a Depop profile selling samples and recycled items to encourage a longer clothing lifecycle.

Dolly Parton releases her own fragrance, Dolly – Scent from Above in Scent Beauty partnership

The globally revered singer-songwriter, Dolly Parton has teamed up with Scent Beauty to launch her first signature fragrance, Dolly – Scent from Above.

Billed in an official press release as butterflies, hearts, and hope – though we sincerely hope not literally – the new fragrance aims to tap into the inspirational ‘rags to rhinestones’ life story of Parton herself as she continues her own mission to ‘spread love and hope around the world.’

Scent Beauty is the world’s first multi-brand e-commerce platform for bespoke fragrances, offering unique, culturally relevant fragrances to consumers worldwide.

“I call my Dolly perfume “Scent from Above” because it is excellently heavenly. I hope you feel as blessed and as pretty as I do when you wear it,” said Parton, who recently received two Emmy Awards for her Netflix Christmas movie, Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square.

Stephen Mormoris, CEO of Scent Beauty, added “Dolly Parton is a cultural icon that’s resonating with people all over the world. She is cross-generational. We’re honored that she chose to work with Scent Beauty for her first foray into the world of beauty and see this as the start of a long-term, successful partnership.”

In addition to retailing via Scent Beauty’s website, HSN will launch the fragrance exclusively on July 28th followed by additional mass market retailers.

“As an admired musical icon and adored philanthropist with her endless contributions spanning over several decades, we are excited to add Dolly’s fragrance to our portfolio and share her inspirational story with our customers,” said Bridget Love, GMM, VP Beauty Merchandising, QVC & HSN.

With over 60 years of music and dozens of awards garnering more than 100 million albums worldwide; Dolly Parton is known globally for her philanthropic endeavors, having given away over 157 million books to children around the world and counting.

The fragrance was developed through partnerships facilitated by Dolly’s licensing representative IMG.

Fashion statements | WildBrain CPLG explores how the post-pandemic world of licensed fashion has shifted gear

With the world beginning to reawaken and emerge from its pandemic slumber, so too is the world of fashion switching gear, slipping out of its comfy bagging clothing and back into a wardrobe designed for life outside, once again. However, notes Pau Pascual, VP Southern Europe and MD of Iberia and MENA, at WildBrain CPLG, the ever-moving fashion scene hasn’t emerged untouched by the shift in consumer sensibilities. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Here, WildBrain CPLG’s Pascual talks us through the key trends to be hitting the post-pandemic licensed fashion space.

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Last year, as with many changes brought about by the pandemic, we saw significant shifts in the world of fashion, particularly in purchasing choices. With much of the world working from home, consumers were prioritising clothing that was comfortable because this became the new daily wardrobe for many, and so there was a swing from retailers to embrace this trend and offer more in the way of casual and sportswear.

However, now with the world starting to open up again, many consumers are looking to inject freshness into their wardrobes and retailers are looking to keep their offering engaging, relevant and fun. Below are five key trends that we’re seeing in the fashion space at WildBrain CPLG, exploring how these are being adopted by brand owners: 

Varsity Back in the Spotlight 

We’ve seen varsity and US college-inspired products, both in the mass market and high-end fashion space, for many years now, but in 2021, the presence of styles that take inspiration from iconic US institutions and their merchandise – such as the baseball ‘letterman’ jackets – has really accelerated. 

There was certainly a large halo effort from Hedi Slimane’s spring ‘21 menswear collection for Celine, which included varsity jackets, along with other varsity-inspired trends, from baseball caps and high-top sneakers to sweatsuits and track shorts, that we’ve seen trickle down to the high street. This trend has also been fuelled by TV shows, such as the Gossip Girl reboot and Riverdale, that have played a key part in bringing varsity style fashion back into focus. Also, the portrayal of Princess Diana in the latest season of The Crown has drawn renewed attention to her fashion looks, including her iconic Philadelphia Eagles varsity jacket. 

Many licensed properties are leaning into this trend and providing their own fresh takes, such as with the beloved Peanuts brand we represent and its many ranges with Inditex. We also represent several iconic institutions themselves, including Harvard and Yale universities, and are seeing great interest in these brands.

Retro Gaming 

Another fashion trend that has been around for a little while but is now stepping up a level, is the use of retro gaming brands, such as Nintendo, and our very own Tetris, Space Invaders and Sonic. As platforms have evolved over the years, these games have been played by multiple generations in many different ways – from the original arcade and console games, and now on tablets and mobile devices – and so they bring wide brand recognition across multiple demographics. 

These properties also offer a real sense of fun and playfulness, as well as tapping into the spirit of nostalgia and evoking the spirit of the ‘80s and ‘90s, which is proving to be really appealing to the millennial generation. More generally, the distinctive graphics are a hit with fans of strong visual styling. 

In particular, we’re seeing these brands enjoy great success with footwear collaborations, such as the deal we recently secured with premium Dutch footwear brand Floris Van Bommel for a Spring/Summer capsule collection inspired by Space Invaders. We often see a ‘30-year-cycle’ where kids who grew up with the IP are now in a position to buy something special that reminds them of their childhood and we see this as a real driver of the trend.

Vintage Brands Applied to Lifestyle 

Also in the vein of millennial and Gen Z nostalgia, we’re increasingly seeing the use of vintage brands applied to lifestyle products within fashion, for example, the new capsule collection inspired by the iconic Fruit of the Loom apparel brand that’s recently launched at Zara. There’s also a lot of interest in brands such as Technics and Kodak, as well as heritage sports brands like Prince and Kappa. 

The fashion industry often aims for the surprise factor by reviving brands that used to be the ‘coolest ones around’ and using them to create a flashback moment during which consumers are reminded of something they’d perhaps long forgotten. This type of licensed collaboration really gives consumers a chance to relive their memories of a certain brand and, although the product may now appear in a different form, it offers them a chance to once again buy something from a brand they loved when they were younger.

Care for the Planet, Ourselves and One Another 

Across all stages of fashion, there is an increased commitment to more environmentally friendly practices and choices – starting right with the manufacturing processes and the raw materials that are being used. The industry is striving to embrace the ‘circular’ economy with reusing and recycling being the top priorities, and this is already happening across many of the big fashion retailers. Many new fashion companies are also solely working with recycled materials and within this type of circular economy. 

Environmental sustainability is also being applied directly to the messaging of products, such as Ecolaf with its ‘There’s No Planet B’ campaign. We also recently worked on a fantastic collaboration for Peanuts Worldwide with the luxury eco-sustainable apparel brand, Vayyu. To mark Earth Day, Vayyu launched its first licensed collection, which featured Charles M. Schulz’s classic Peanuts characters and included garments designed by students from Nottingham Trent University. This was all part of Peanuts Worldwide’s “Take Care with Peanuts” initiative, a global multi-year enterprise encouraging everyone to take care of themselves, each other and the Earth.

As well as embracing the growing interest in caring for the planet, licensing trends are also capturing the zeitgeist within the fashion space for care and kindness – as we emerge from the pandemic with a renewed respect for one another and our world. This is coming across in apparel that brings in messages of acceptance and inclusivity, as well as encouraging individuals to express themselves freely. A great example of this is WildBrain’s recently launched Teletubbies adult fashion collection for 2021 Pride Month, which incorporates a theme of ‘Big Hugs, Big Love’ and celebrates the importance of self-expression in an uplifting way. The collection’s proceeds will also benefit GLAAD to support its culture-changing work to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community. 

In a more visual sense, we’re seeing many floral and colourful patterns as consumers embrace fun, playful prints to counteract the difficult period we’ve been living in.

Art, Graphics and Museums 

Finally, there’s been a continuing trend for many years for fashion partnerships inspired by art brands, particularly when there’s an anniversary from artists and museums to be celebrated with supporting merchandise. 

This trend has ramped up recently, with many well-respected artists and museums being a key focus for licensed collaborations. Some recent examples include Zara launching a menswear collection inspired by the “El Prado” Museum in Spain as well as a range for the Sistine Chapel, and Pull & Bear collaborating with Tate Modern. Licensed collaborations offer consumers another – often more affordable – avenue to own a ‘piece of art’ from their favourite creators and build this into their daily lives. 

British fashion brand Gresham Blake launches limited edition TfL apparel collection

TSBA Group has signed the contemporary British fashion brand, Gresham Blake, to create a limited edition range of apparel using Transport for London’s moquette fabric. The new range will span tracksuits, shirts, and dresses with three designs inspired by the moquette fabrics used on seating on the London Underground.

Awareness around Gresham’s designs will be generated through the release of a high energy video and music track, We’re Going Out, that will showcase the products. It will highlight the inspiration behind the collection that has been drawn form assets taken from TfL’s more than 150 year history.

The moquettes, together with the iconic roundel and Tube map are recognisable the world over; TfL’s rich archive offers licensing partners inspiration to blend the brand’s heritage with current trends, using colours and themes to inspire new takes on classic iconography and designs.

Social media is already seeing the likes of Fatboy Slim and Rag’n’Bone Man wearing the tracksuits following the video and track’s release, under the “Shakeable Germ” label featuring Atlantalili, with several other high-profile stars such as Romesh Ranganathan, Iain Stirling and Steve Coogan to follow.

Gresham Blake said: “The London Underground has an unparalleled history; so much ground-breaking design in its past from tunnel construction to the famous logo and ingenious map. I looked at the fabric on the seats and thought it would be great to make a range of clothing including shirts and tracksuits.”

Jo Edwards, head of global licensing, TSBA Group said: “London is one of the fashion capitals of the world, and TfL is intrinsically London; the brand is perfect for apparel and accessories collaborations. Gresham Blake, who is so well known in the fashion world for his statement designs, has created a fantastic range of product that showcases the moquette, just one of the many assets available under the TfL brand.”

Julie Dixon, head of customer information, design and partnerships at Transport for London (TfL) added: “We’re delighted to be working with Gresham Blake on this innovative use of our moquette designs. It’s great to see how they have used our iconic branding to create a new look that’s already being embraced by their customers.

“This is another great example of how brands wanting to reach a diverse range of audiences can work with us to use our designs in fun and creative ways. Activities like this help generate additional revenue for us to invest in the transport network for the benefit of all of our customers.”

To find out more about the collaboration, or how you can partner with one of the world’s most recognizable brands, contact TSBA at enquiries@tsbagroup.com

Finsbury Food Group expands Diageo partnership to launch Gordon’s Pink Gin cake

The UK cake manufacturer, Finsbury Food Group is expanding on its partnership with the global drinks giant, Diageo to launch a new collaboration with the best-selling gin brand, Gordon’s.

Tapping into the ongoing success of the gin market, Finsbury has partnered with Gordon’s to launch one of the brand’s signature distilled gins in cake form, resulting in the new Gordon’s Premium Pink Cake, a pink and white sponge layered cake with raspberry jam and topped with Gordon’s Premium Pink flavoured frosting.

Having sold more than one million cases in its first two years, Gordon’s Pink Gin has tapped into a wave of consumer demand for distilled gins that now account for around 40 per cent of the total gin market by both volume and value. Lockdown saw sales in the market surge by 37 per cent in the 12 months to March 27, 2021.

Finsbury has worked in close partnership with brand owner Diageo since 2018, when it introduced the first range of adult-only cakes with Baileys. The Baileys range has listings in all major supermarkets, having since expanded to feature products such as the Chocolate Treat Blondie Bars, Salted Caramel Cupcakes, Chocolate Yule Log and two celebration cake variants in Strawberries & Cream and Chocolate Marble.

Emma Hamilton, brand manager for Finsbury Food Group, said: “We’ve worked with Diageo for many years and have seen huge success when we’ve previously married together their well-loved drinks with our expertise in crafting beautiful cakes. At Finsbury we are always looking for ways to bring innovation into the cake category, and excite the public with the launch of new products that they’ve never seen before.

“We know gin lovers will want to snap this up, but we’ve made sure that there’s enough beautiful flavours and toppings to delight those who aren’t as partial to gin too. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Gordon’s on their first cake, hopefully the first of many, and can’t wait to see people enjoying the Premium Pink cake as it lands this summer.”

Declan Hassett, senior licensing manager at Diageo, added: “At Gordon’s we work hard to challenge the industry, stay ahead of the curve and set the trends when it comes to our special Distilled Collection. We invest heavily in product innovation and following the hugely successful launch of our Premium Pink Gin in 2017, we wanted to create something really different and special for our customers. There was no better choice than partnering with Finsbury to make our cake dreams a reality.”

Gordon’s Premium Pink Cake will be available in ASDA stores and online from 25th July, and in Tesco from 6th September.

Warner Bros Consumer Products and Myprotein flex new collab with limited edition Superman collection

Warner Bros. is once again flexing its consumer products muscles, this time through a renewed partnership with the popular fitness brand, Myprotein, to launch a limited edition Superman protein range.

Launched this week, the new whey protein and accessories collection follows a successful pairing between the Warner Bros Consumer Products and My Protein that first landed in 2020 when the fitness brand introduced its Justice League Hero Protein.

Fuelled by a demand for DC Comics inspired workouts, the brand reconnected at the tail of last year to introduce its Warrior Protein, a limited edition run themed around the Wonder Woman film, WW84.

Now, the two are at it again, this time bringing out a solo collection for Warner Bros’ own Man of Steel, Superman. The collaboration features the Myprotein Superman Clear Whey Protein in Acerola Cherry, available in 10 and 20 serving tubs, as well as a limited edition bundle that includes a Superman t-shirt along with a 20-serving protein tub and shaker.

“Last year, Myprotein and Warner Bros Consumer Products launched their official licensing agreement with the introduction of a special Justice League Hero Protein, followed by a Wonder Woman 84 range. The Superman limited edition is the latest installment of three super hero lines for Myprotein,” read a statement from the firm.

The company is expecting the range to be ‘a blockbuster’ among fans and is urging consumers to get their orders in fast, signalling the Superman range to be the final launch in its Warner Bros. collaboration.

Smiley secures multi-territory accessories deal with fashion specialist Concept One

A new raft of Smiley themed accessories will be heading to the UK next year, thanks to a recently signed partnership between the iconic lifestyle brand, Smiley and the children’s and adult fashion specialist, Concept One.

Arriving just ahead of Smiley’s 50th anniversary, the Concept One collection will span headwear, cold weather accessories, wallets, handbags, and more. The range will be made available across five territories, these being the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Australia. The range is scheduled to launch from Spring 2022.

“This partnership is a great opportunity for us and we are very excited to start working with Concept One,” said Alex Ruiz, senior partnership manager USA at Smiley.

Founded in 1972 by Franklin Loufrani, Smiley is heading into its 50th anniversary celebration next year when it will mark five decades of recognition as a counter-culture icon. Over its half a century, Smiley has become a lifestyle brand synonymous with the pursuit of happiness, with a consumer products and licensing portfolio that spans textiles, puzzles, party goods, stationery, car accessories, and toys for licensed brand partners and retailers.

Concept One now joins a growing roster of licensing partners for the brand as it continues to spread its message on the global stage.