Peppa Pig and Hunter launch second collection of wellies, backpacks, and accessories

Hasbro and Entertainment One’s Peppa Pig is at it again, helping kids prepare for all of those muddy puddles with the launch of a second collaboration collection of children’s wellies and accessories with Hunter.

Following on the heels of the successful first launch collection, the latest line up – featuring the Kids First Muddy Puddles Wellington boot, Backpack, Umbrella, and Kids Boots Socks – will be launching in time for the start of a new school year on August 2nd this year.

Through its partnership with Hunter, Peppa Pig continues to celebrate and encourage a love of nature and adventure. Each product features an exclusive camouflage pattern of Peppa Pig splashing in puddles. The print incorporates rain droplets and Peppa Pig herself wearing boots, a rain jacket and holding a Hunter umbrella.

The boot has been handcrafted from natural vegan rubber offering 100 waterproof protection and features the playful camouflage puddle print, available in Dragon Fly, Yarrow and Rose Metal.

Ranging from £25 to £50 the collection will be available online at Hunterboots com, Hunter retail stores and selected retailers from August 2nd 2021.

Indie Uncovered | UK artist Meg Hawkins strikes staycation success in SDL Imports gifting partnership

The UK artist and talent behind her self-titled design brand, Meg Hawkins has secured her latest licensing partnership in the gifts and lifestyle sector, teaming with SDL Imports to launch a selection of wooden homeware items.

The deal sees a collection of some of Hawkins’ most popular artworks feature across a portfolio of SDL wooden items, spanning coat hooks, boxes, and key boxes, joining a line up of already established footstools and further household and lifestyle items.

The SDL Imports Natural World by Meg Hawkins collection has been the focus of a long process of product development and a partnership that originally kicked off in January 2020, when the SDL Imports team first discovered Meg Hawkins’ art brand at Exeter’s Giving & Living Trade Show. 

While partnerships were quickly formed and contracts swiftly signed, the pandemic – and knock-on effects from the Suez Canal blockage and subsequent issues around shipping – hampered plans to launch product to consumers until only recently. However, the team have since been encouraged by a strong positive reception from customers and the public alike, with repeat orders across the range already being placed.

“We are absolutely delighted with our new Natural World by Meg Hawkins range. Meg’s designs look wonderful on our products,” said Diana Leadbetter of SDL Imports. 

“We have had a very positive response to this new range. We only received the stock three weeks ago and one line is already 50 per cent sold and many others over 25 per cent sold. Given that our customers have largely been unable to see and touch the products before buying them, that is very encouraging.”

SDL Importants has been supplying the tourist industry with giftware since the 1950s. Its partnership with Meg Hawkins focuses on the artist’s UK wildlife and animals collection, tapping into UK tourist attractions with a range that has proved particularly popular with buyers and retailers based in seaside towns and UK coastal holiday destinations.

The SDL Imports team has found that, while the pandemic hampered plans for the range initially, the resultant influx of holiday makers staying within the UK this year, and heading to coastal holiday hotspots, has helped boost sales.

“The increase in staycations has resulted in an extension to the normal UK coastal holidays into late autumn,” continued Leadbetter. “Last year, it was all going well until the November lockdown was announced. This year, as soon as holiday accommodation and restaurants were able to open, everywhere became busy quickly.

“The resultant influx into the traditional tourist towns of people tired of months of lockdown and not being able to visit shops has resulted in increased sales, with some of our customers advising having experienced their best weeks trading ever over the May half term.”

A brand centered around watercolour artwork and photography, the Meg Hawkins brand has been featured on a vast portfolio of products, from greetings cards to footstools, and within five years the brand has advanced form the kitchen table to being sold worldwide.

Hawkins has previously secured licensing agreements with the likes of Widdop and Bingham, Card.com, a fudge range from Gardeniers of Scotland, and 2022 notes cards with the RNLI.

“From the minute I met Diana and Mike Leadbetter at SDL Imports, we hit it off straight away,” said Hawkins. “Communication is key and we seem to be able to go with the flow. I am really pleased the collection has been selling well for them.

“We are a young company and extending our ranges through licensing enables us to gather a larger product range and most importantly, brand awareness. Our goal to be a recognised household brand is showing a glimmer of light, and hopefully all the hard work will pay off.”

Hawkins now plans to see the brand extend across other categories including stationery, as well as further homeware offerings such as bedding and soft furnishings.

“We have just launched a children’s range under Little Joe & Co which has proven really popular. We’re looking for someone to license the images for toys and baby clothes and other children’s products.”

Hype teams with fashion doll brand LOL Surprise for new range of apparel and accessories

The popular apparel and accessory brand, Hype has partnered with MGA Entertainment to launch a new collection inspired by the world of LOL Surprise as each dolls lands its own mini collection of backpacks, lunch boxes, pencil cases, water bottles, t-shirts, hoodies, and joggers.

Each item in the new licensed range will showcase each character’s personality, as the range of accessories include evolving shapes showcasing the new Just Hype, as well as backpack shapes, enlarged 2D faces, detachable embossed keychains, and fabrics including glitter, holographic and sequins.

Nine designs feature in the collection, all of which channel the dolls’ core personalities through graffiti designs, leopard and cheetah animal prints, tie-dye, honeycomb, gradient skies, and pastel fades.

The 80-piece collection ranges from three to 13 years and includes t-shirts, cycle shorts and bralettes which are perfect for summer. Glitter logos, sleeve panelling, cross body panelling and woven co-branded labels complete the capsule collection looks.

Queen Bee’s collection features a brown and beige colour palette with the Glitterati club’s signature gold glitter. The lunch box and backpack feature elements of her iconic striped dress teamed with a HYPE. bee-inspired print.

Meanwhile, Diva’s look is celebrated with a cheetah inspired print in a gradient pastel pink and mint colour palette. Her backpack and lunch bag both feature her instantly-recognisable pink bow in a 3D shape.

The collaboration collection launched exclusively via HYPE.’s TikTok Shop on July 7th this year and online at www.justhype.com and retailers around the world on July 8th.

“We love bringing LOL to life through fashion and accessories to our loyal fans. Our LOL dolls each have their own individual style and working with Hype has helped create that element of surprise,” said founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, Isaac Larian.

Liam Green, co-founder and creative director at Hype, added: “The inspiration behind the collection stems from the exciting surprise element capturing the moment when you open your L.O.L. dolls. Incorporating this into shapes, fabrics, technical detailing and over-all prints – HYPE.’s known-for eclectic touch on collaborations.”

British fashion brand Oasis celebrates nature with limited edition RHS summer collection

The Royal Horticultural Society has teamed up with the British fashion brand, Oasis to launch an exclusive, limited-edition 27-piece collection of women’s apparel, designed to celebrate nature and horticulture.

The Oasis design team has worked closely with the RHS and its RHS Lindley Collection to select and adapt a portfolio of striking drawings. The fashion team then re-sketched the chosen images by hand to incorporate the prints into a new collection. The 27-piece collection features 11 prints in total.

Styles in the collection include maxi dresses featuring classic magnolias or bold multi-coloured blooms finished with embroidered trims and ruffle details. Meanwhile, unique bird prints feature on tailored separates and corseted midi dresses, listed as ‘perfect for special occasions.’

Then, what Oasis calls ‘floaty, boho-inspired pieces’ make up the chic summer dressing collection in both mini and maxi lengths, “exuding luxury with crinkle georgette fabrics, lace yoke inserts and dramatic, tie-up sleeves.”

The core target market for Oasis is women in their early-mid 30s who seek quality, intricate details and print designs with a story. However, the secondary market for Oasis apparel is a significant one, and the association with the UK’s best-loved gardening charity is expected to further enhance the appeal of this new range to a wide age group.

The collection is available online at Oasis-stores.com from the 14th of July.

Michelle Evatt, head Of design at Oasis, said: “We are extremely pleased to launch our first limited-edition collaboration with the RHS. As a brand that celebrates nature and weaves storytelling into print design, the opportunity to explore the RHS botanical print archives was priceless.

“Our design team carefully selected a handful of striking designs and re-sketched by hand, to incorporate these breathtaking prints into a collection that’s contemporary yet full of romance and timeless appeal, while capturing the essence of the RHS.”

Cathy Snow, licensing manager, RHS, added: “From sketch to store, Oasis worked closely with the RHS to capture the essence of the work in our vast library. The results are some truly enchanting prints and captivating styles that together form a beautiful collection that celebrates the joys of nature in a delightful and original way.”

British snack food brand Walkers steps into licensing as IMG renews PepsiCo partnership

The British snack food brand, Walkers is stepping into the world of licensing through a renewal agreement between IMG and PepsiCo that will also see the global licensing agency extend its representations of the Pepsi, 7UP, Cheetos, Doritos, Lay’s, and Mountain Dew brands.

Since being appointed its licensing agency in 2015, IMG has worked to grow PepsiCo’s consumer products offering significantly, with branded apparel, footwear, swimwear, accessories, beauty, giftware, and stationery now available internationally and through some of the world’s leading fashion and department stores.

Sam Barker, senior licensing director at IMG, said: “We are delighted to extend and expand our relationship with PepsiCo following a successful six-year run of signings. Each of these globally loved beverage and snack brands has its own colourful and distinctive personality, which translates perfectly into vibrant, fun products using PepsiCo’s fantastic style guides.

“We look forward to extending their reach into other brand-relevant categories and exploring exciting new opportunities with the recent addition of Walkers.”

The Royal Mint unveils Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland coin collection with the V&A

The Royal Mint has unveiled the first official Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland coin collection developed in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum and inspired by illustrations from the original book by the English novelist, Lewis Carroll.

A special £5 crown featuring Alice and the Cheshire Cat is now available for collectors to get their hands on. The coin was revealed alongside the original illustrations by Sir John Tenniel at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition held at the Victoria and Albert museum.

Featuring the edge inscription “Curiouser and Curiouser,” the intricate design is one of the most detailed coins produced by the 1,100-year-old Makers.

Launched in base metal (known as brilliant uncirculated), and also available in gold and silver, the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland keepsake is part of a two-coin collectors’ range created by The Royal Mint Designer Ffion Gwillim and Sculptor Emma Noble. The second coin, featuring Tweedledum and Tweedledee, will launch later this summer in celebration of 150 years of Through the Looking-Glass – the sequel to the original Lewis Carroll book.

Clare Maclennan divisional director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a true classic, cherished by generations of adults and children of all ages and is still as popular today. In collaboration with the V&A, we have commemorated this treasured tale for the first time on an official UK coin.

“Inspired by Sir John Tenniel’s original illustrations, the beautiful £5 crown has been crafted to the finest quality, combining traditional minting skills with innovation in design technology. I’m sure the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland range will become a popular choice for collectors, capturing the imagination of people of all ages, launching at the awe-inspiring Victoria and Albert Museum during the 150th anniversary of Through the Looking-Glass is a fitting celebration.”

Amelia Calver, research and development manager, V&A Brand Licensing, added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the global phenomenon beloved by all ages, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, with the 2021 commemorative coins. The designs masterfully capture the charm of Tenniel’s original illustrations and pay homage to some of the Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass characters that Alice meets along the way.

“The 2021 coins are set to give fans the chance to add to their existing collections and inspire new readers of the book to discover the magic of Carroll’s stories and embark on wondrous journeys of their own.”

The National Gallery taps ARTiSTORY to grow licensing programme on a global scale

The cultural IP licensing specialist, ARTiSTORY has secured a new, multi-year partnership with The National Gallery Company through which it work to expand its licensing programme on a global scale.

Co-founded by Yizan He and Natasha Dyson, ARTiSTORY is a specialist in IP development working with museums, galleries, science centres, and libraries across the globe as it brings a spectrum of creative design, licensing,and retailing capabilities geared towards helping cultural organisations develop their licensing programmes.

The National Gallery is a home to more than 2,600 of the world’s most renowned paintings including 700 years of work from the late 13th to the early 20th century. Founded in 1824, just 38 paintings started what would become a National Collection of art. The gallery covers 46,396 square metres and is located north of Trafalgar Square in the centre of London.

Inspiration for ARTiSTORY’s cultural themes and design assets will derive form the Gallery’s collection of masterpieces by artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Cézanne, Gentileschi, and Van Gogh. The art movements represented in the gallery are various, from renaissance to impressionism, to rococo and romanticism, there is a wealth of stories to share with licensees, to create a range of product collections.

“We are thrilled to be working with Judith and her team and to finally be able to meet in person after so many months of communicating virtually. Adding the National Gallery’s image collection to our portfolio of IP has given us access to many of the world’s most sought after and iconic masterpieces,” said Natasha Dyson, co-founder and licensing director at ARTiSTORY.

“Our creative team have been busy working on our themes, design assets, including illustrations, patterns and prints, ready for launch in July. We can’t wait to see these design applied to products.”

Judith Mather, buying and brand licensing director at the National Gallery, added: “We are very excited about working with ARTiSTORY to further grow our licensing programme.”

A Full English | Golden Goose on putting English Heritage in the product and on the packaging

With over 400 historical and cultural sites across the country as well as a portfolio that spans the ages, from the mysteries of Stonehenge to the art deco interiors of Eltham Palace, the playground of opportunity for the English Heritage brand to explore through consumer products and licensing is vastly exciting.

Couple all of this with the current spike in demand for cultural IP licensing from consumers the world over, each looking to re-engage with the stories and history channeled through the sector, and it’s an enviable position that the UK licensing agency, Golden Goose finds itself in, representing one of the country’s most revered names in historical and cultural conservation.

Here, Licensing.biz catches up with Golden Goose’s Helen Webster to learn more about the licensing specialist’s plans for the English Heritage brand, and why developing consumer products for a name so rich with history means ensuring that ‘English Heritage is in the licensed products, as well as on the packaging.’

Hello Helen, thanks for talking to us this month. To kick us off, could you give us an overview of the English Heritage brand, its role in maintaining, safeguarding and promoting some of the country’s most historical sites, and the values that the brand brings to the licensing space?

The English Heritage brand is one of the UK’s best known and most respected heritage brands. English Heritage wants people to experience the story of England where it actually happened so their sites and properties offer an imaginative, true to the story, carefully curated experience aimed at inspiring people of all ages. Alongside this, English Heritage works to ensure their sites and properties  – which include Stonehenge, Osborne House, Kenwood House and Dover Castle –  and the thousands of historic artefacts in their care are conserved and expertly cared for such that they can also be enjoyed by future generations.

As such, the values inherent in the English Heritage brand are authenticity, quality, inspiration, responsibility and fun; all of which are values that will flow through the English Heritage licensing programme and connect with today’s consumers and the way they want to blend history into their lives.

Looking over the English Heritage website and shop, the brand has already made headway in the licensing space. How is Golden Goose leveraging the rich heritage of the brand itself to build on the licensing portfolio?

Also, where do you even begin with building out a programme for such a revered name as English Heritage?

While it is clear from past activity that the English Heritage brand has enormous potential, this is really the first time that licensing is receiving the level of internal focus that it needs to achieve significant scale. Because we are working directly with Kingston Myles who is the Head of Commercial Development, we can leverage all of the EH brand assets, from the trademark to the collections archive right and on to the multi channel commercial operation which includes over 100 retail outlets, 35 café’s and a portfolio of  holiday cottages.

Having an expert point of contact with Kingston allows us to target the biggest potential categories and opportunities cohesively. To date we have even been able to start scoping out international markets where the brand has impact, such as South Korea.

“Our approach to licensing English Heritage means ensuring that the English Heritage brand is ‘in’ the licensed products as well as ‘on’ the packaging.”

How has ‘heritage licensing’ changed over recent years, what do consumers expect in terms of brand narrative and story telling in ‘heritage licensing’ today, and how will this be reflected in your approach to licensing English Heritage?

With the lockdowns causing a massive shortfall of visitation and thus creating income gaps for most heritage brands, there are certainly more heritage brands keen to penetrate the market and benefit from quicker wins. Our approach to licensing English Heritage, however, will be to ensure we put in place a long-term strategic licensing programme that is well aligned with the brand’s core values and purpose. This means ensuring that the English Heritage brand is ‘in’ the licensed products as well as ‘on’ the packaging.

English Heritage is not only a well established brand itself, but with over 400 sites across the country, has a portfolio of rich cultural history that spans the ages. The licensing and story telling potential it boasts must be incredibly exciting. What level of creativity does the portfolio afford you? 

Thanks to the more than 400 properties that English Heritage manages and maintains there is a rich treasure of design inspiration available; from the art deco interiors of Eltham Palace, the beautiful prints and patterns inside Audley End House and of course the Victorian splendour of Osborne House.

There are many design eras available to inspire licensees however, in addition to being a rich asset bank, English Heritage is very much a living brand so our licensees will not only be able to draw from a wonderful design heritage and use these assets as is for specific product categories but others will also be able to use the asset bank to inform and inspire beautiful, useful products for today’s consumers and today’s preferences for colour, scale and detail.

How can licensing unlock history for new generations?

There is plenty that EH is already doing to appeal to new generations and we see that more as a core attribute of the brand rather than something that could be used purely to create licensed products. However, we are looking into toys, puzzles, dress up and other categories that will bring the brand to life for new generations while also helping them learn about and appreciate the rich seam of history that English Heritage represents.

How has the consumer’s relationship with ‘heritage licensing’ changed in the last 12 months? Has lockdown and the pandemic changed the way in which people want to experience art and culture? How does this influence your licensing strategy?

The market was already seeing a resurgence in the consumer’s interest in all things heritage and the authenticity and quality this can represent but the last year has accelerated this and also positioned “heritage” alongside other accelerating consumer interests in and around sustainability and our environment, where authenticity and quality also play their part. This is very much playing into our licensing strategy.

Further, I think consumers have tuned into online shopping more than ever before which means that they expect the products that they can imagine to be available. This presents opportunities for print/manufacture on-demand licensees, of course, but now that things are opening up again, EH are hoping to see visitors return to sites and their shops.

Hopefully, our English Heritage licensees, where relevant, will be able to tap into any opportunities that arise through the English Heritage stores, too.

“We’re looking into toys, puzzles, and dress up to bring the brand to life for new generations while helping them learn about the rich seam of history that English Heritage represents.”

What categories or licensing partners will be key to you as you build on the English Heritage portfolio? What will the lifestyle, home, and garden licensing spaces span, and how will you look to tell the story of English Heritage through these?

All things home, home décor and garden are key to the English Heritage brand and it’s no surprise that we will shortly be unveiling our first tentpole licensee who will be working across fabrics, wallpapers and home décor internationally.

The rich English Heritage asset bank, the stories behind the patterns and designs in their properties, their fabulous gardens and the credibility of the English Heritage brand itself will be essential ingredients in telling the story of English Heritage through their licensed products.

What can we expect from English Heritage in the licensing space in the coming year and beyond? What’s the next step for you guys in the sector?

You can expect us to deliver high quality, aspirational products that appeal to the discerning consumer who wants a product that delivers on everything heritage stands for in their own homes, whether that be  in furniture, fabrics, bedding, fragrance or other lifestyle products.

In addition, you can expect some surprises because, as an agency, we are always looking for ways to move the needle and gain momentum that opens the doors to new product categories and markets.

Haribo expands its happy world with first 100th anniversary product launches

The global confectionery brand, Haribo is preparing to celebrate its milestone 100th anniversary next year, with the latest launch in a roll-out of consumer products spanning toys, footwear, apparel, and homewares throughout 2021.

Developed through collaborations forged by IMG, Haribo’s consumer products programme kicked off last month with the worldwide unveiling of a partnership with PUMA and the launch of a PUMA footwear and apparel collection. The street wear brand has now released its second drop in the collab, a collection of ‘candy-coloured’ ranges that infuse Haribo’s Goldbears with some of its own classic silhouettes.

The latest launch includes the CA Pro, Street Rider, RS-X3, and Suede all in adult, junior, preschool, and infant sizing.

Further products partnerships and launches will include Haribo branded shoes for kids developed by the European footwear retailer, Deichmann. The line is scheduled to launch at the end of July this year.

Haribo is also moving in on the toys, collectables, and plush sector with a new range launching this autumn thanks to a multi-year, global deal with the US toymaker, Jakks Pacific. Meanwhile, KidsOne will launch branded tableware in Korea.

Andreas Kuhnle, head of global marketing at Haribo, said: “Haribo is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most popular brands in many countries around the world. Our lives are full of adventures and challenges. Every day and all over the world, little and big heroes face new tasks.

“For all of them, we at Haribo create small, carefree moments of childlike happiness with our products. That’s why brands that also stand for these little moments of joy in everyday life are a perfect fit for Haribo.”

Sven Thierhoff, VP of licensing at IMG, added: “It’s amazing to see the happy world of Haribo come to life through such a diverse, colourful programme of products that embody the brand’s quality-first values. Initial collaborations have been extremely popular with collectors and Haribo fans of all ages, and we can’t wait to develop together with Haribo and new partners new thrilling ideas for the centenary of the iconic Goldbear in 2022.”

Bravado fires up the fans with Team GB apparel and accessories ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Bravado, the merchandise and brand management division of Universal Music Group, has secured a deal with Team GB to design and distribute official, branded merchandise ranges to the UK retail market. The launch will coincide with the team’s efforts in the 2020 Olympics this summer in Tokyo.

Fans will be able to show their support of the nation’s Olympians through a ‘multi-layered offering’ that will span both online and in-store, as well as luxury, with high-end capsule collections scheduled to run later this summer. The range will feature athleisure, apparel and accessories boasting never before seen designs.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will take place in Japan from 23 July until 8 August 2021. Team GB will take part in 40 sports, with over 370 athletes due to represent their country.

Keith Taperell, vice president retail and sales, Bravado UK, said: “We can’t possibly be more passionate and excited about this collaboration. With such a testing year behind us, we look forward to the creativity, optimism and patriotism that accompanies this project. The unity and inspiration the Games conjure the world over, is just what we all need.”

Paul Ellis, head of licensing and retail, Team GB added: “Team GB is delighted to be working with Bravado to tap into their design and retail expertise to excite the fans with great product ranges as the nation get behind the team with the Games set to take place in just under a month.”

More details on individual capsule collections will follow in the coming weeks.