Adidas and Timex Group partner to launch Adidas Originals branded watches in 2022

The international watchmaking company, Timex Group, has entered into a global licensing agreement with Adidas to design, manufacture, and distribute watches under the Adidas Original brand.

The collection is scheduled to hit the market at the start of next year and will look to blend Timex Group’s heritage in watchmaking and design with Adidas Originals’ street culture inspiration. The portfolio of watches will also draw attention to the brand’s focus on sustainability.

“We could not be more excited to welcome Adidas into our portfolio of brands,” said Tobias Reiss-Schmidt, president and CEO of Timex Group.

“There are few truly iconic brands, and Adidas, with its rich history and authentic style, is at the very top of the list. We see a strong and increasing interest in watches among young Millennials and GenZ, and we look forward to introducing our Adidas Originals watch collection to this next generation of consumers.”

The range will be sold across Adidas owned stores, affiliates and e-commerce, and through Timex Group’s global distribution network.

Adidas and LEGO build on creative partnership to introduce a new ZX 8000 ‘Bricks’ Collection

Adidas and The LEGO Group have extended their partnership to launch a new ZX 8000 ‘Bricks’ collection of footwear, building on the pairing that previously introduced the landmark A-ZX series.

Bringing the globally renowned Danish toy brand’s signature aesthetics to one of Adidas’ most iconic styles, the collection marks the next stage in a partnership inspired by the two companies’ shared passion for creativity.

The footwear collection plays host to six sneakers, each made up in one of the primary LEGO colors: Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, Black, and Grey. Boasting a classic construction based on the original ZX 8000 material composition, each pair in the collaborative ‘Bricks’ offering features a mesh upper matched with synthetic suede overlays, a ghillie lacing system, and a TPU heel counter which playfully emulates the texture of LEGO bricks.

Accompanying the launch of the collection is a playful campaign which follows the journey of the ZX 8000 silhouette as it is constructed piece by piece by LEGO minifigure engineers.

The Adidas Originals and the LEGO Group ZX 8000 ‘Bricks’ collection arrives on May 7th and is available in adult and junior sizing through adidas.com/LEGO and select retailers.

Clothing brand and webcomic Zombie Makeout Club taps Reemsborko for global licensing expansion

The clothing brand and webcomic series, Zombie Makeout Club has tapped Max Arguile and Reemsborko to represent the brand globally across all product categories for merchandising.

The move has been made as Zombie Makeout Club looks to strengthen its licensing presence and build on the success of a portfolio of products that have already been selling well for the company via its online website over the past three years. The appointment of Reemsborko will see the brand cross-over into the bricks and mortar retail space.

In the US, Goodie Two Sleeves is already enjoying strong sales having recently launched at Hot Topic.

Max Arguile of Reemsborko, said: “I am very pleased to secure the rights to Zombie Makeout Club. Horror and animé are experiencing big surges in popularity right now. This style is bang on-trend, as we have seen with licenses like Junji Itô, (the apparel for which is currently on fire in the both the US and Australia and is now coming soon to Europe) so there is definitely scope for ZMC in the market.

“Peter Richardson is an amazing artist with an eye for edgy but commercial designs. This is going to be great.”

Peter Richardson, owner of Zombie Makeout Club, added: “Reemsborko has great in-roads into retail in all territories and solid relationships with key licensees that can deliver. We look forward to the growth and expansion of our brand and are particularly keen for this to be republished as a manga.”

Crayola partners with Native Shoes to launch bold new range of designs

Crayola has launched a new collaboration with the footwear brand, Native Shoes, to celebrate a shared creativity through the launch of a range of new designs featuring the bold colours of the arts and crafts brand.

The Jefferson, Jefferson Child, Spencer LX, and Charley sandals have each been reimagined with a bright, abstract scribble print, mimicking the effect of classic Crayola markers. An additional four-scribble print sees the Jefferson Child sandal emblazoned with different colour scribbles on each side.

A range has also been launched for those looking to make a bolder statement, with a vivid ombre block print available in nostalgic shades of Sunny Side Up Yellow, and Navy Niblet Blue applied to the sandals collection.

As with all Native Shoes, the 11 styles in the Crayola collaboration are designed to tread lightly on the planet. Fully recyclable through the Native Shoes Remix Project, the shoes can be shipped back free-of-charge once outgrown, to be transformed into colorful playgrounds for local communities in Native Shoes’ hometown of Vancouver, Canada.

Kyle Housman, CEO of Native Shoes, said: “As a brand, Native Shoes is all about making it easy for all to Live Lightly. We celebrate the happy moments, bold colors and light footprints which make our world a better place. With its bright colors and boundless inspiration, Crayola is a natural partner, and we’re so excited to work with them on this collaboration.”

Warren Schorr, vice president of business development and global licensing, Crayola, added: “Crayola strives to help parents and educators raise creatively-alive kids. We are thrilled to partner with Native Shoes, another mission-driven brand, to inspire kids and adults to step up each day with eye-catching, bold footwear.”

Next gen home and lifestyle platform Fy! partners with Mercis for official Miffy collection

The next gen home, living, and lifestyle retail platform, Fy!, has detailed a new collaboration with Mercis BV to launch an official Miffy collection this week, spanning wall art, textiles, and tech accessories.

The collection will land on the platform on Wednesday, April 28th.

Molly Pusey, Fy! VP of supply, commented: “At Fy!, we’re passionate about building our global community of brands and artists. We’re thrilled to welcome Miffy and friends to our platform. The much loved illustrations have captured our hearts and are a fantastic addition to our current product offering. We hope our customer loves the nostalgic designs as much as we do.” 

Marja Kerkhof, managing director at Mercis, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Fy! to the Miffy family and love the designs of the products they will be offering. The vibrant colours are a true prelude to a lovely spring/summer season.” 

Fy! works directly with over 2,500 independent brands and artists to bring their unique home and living products to a new audience of mobile native shoppers. It has been developed with the 25 to 40 year old shopper in mind, tapping into what it believes is a market under-served by traditional retail. 

The RHS endorses new range from Original Muck Boot Company as it targets the 18 to 35 year old market

The Royal Horticultural Society has thrown its weight behind a new range of footwear from the premium boots maker and long-standing RHS partner, The Original Muck Boot Company.

The new RHS-endorsed range, called Outscape, is a new concept in footwear that offers a modern look with the performance of a trainer, but with the waterproof and durable protection found in all Muck ranges.

Available in two different heights – ankle boots and low shoes – for all genders, Outscape shoes and short boots are billed as ‘ideal for active outdoor work and exploration.’ The range features a Dual Density footbed, as well as a ‘shovel-ready nylon shank for under-foot stability when using garden tools.’

The target market for the range is 18 to 35 year old aspirational, motivated men and women who love animals, travel, and the land. However, the appeal of the shoes and boots is expected to extend to anyone who appreciates durable, comfortable outdoor footwear.

The Original Muck Boot Company was formed in 1999 to provide 100 per cent waterproof boots and footwear that withstand the muckiest situations in every season. Its ranges include a wide selection of multi-purpose gardening boots and shoes endorsed by the RHS since 2016.

Eleanor Cornwell, EMEA marketing lead, The Original Muck Boot Company, said: “Performance and versatility are key when on-the-go and we believe our Outscape ranges perfectly meet the needs of many gardeners and walkers for a waterproof boot with the comfort of a lightweight trainer. We’re delighted that the RHS agrees with us and thrilled to have the endorsement of Britain’s favourite gardening charity.”

Shereen Llewellin, licensing executive, RHS, added: “There are many makers of outdoor footwear but few that meet the exacting standards demanded by RHS supporters for gardening, dog walking and rambling that have become especially popular in the past year.

“The Original Muck Boot Company understands this market better than almost anyone – and we are delighted to endorse the comfortable and durable Outscape range.”

Luxury pen maker Conway Stewart inks partnership with Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum

The ink is still drying on a new deal between the luxury pen maker, Conway Stewart and the famous Oxford institution, the Ashmolean Museum, that will see the development of a series of Ashmolean Pens.

The partnership – brokered by Ian Downes and Start Licensing – will see the pen sold in a limited edition of 200, retailing at £595. The first Ashmolean Pen is based on the Conway Stewart iconic Churchill pen and has been produced in the Oxford University Blue with nine carat gold trim with English hallmarks.

WA2001.18; Ruskin bust with the “John Ruskin Pen”

The theme of the first pen in the series is John Ruskin. Closely connected with Oxford and the Ashmolean, Ruskin studied as an undergraduate at Christ Church, and remained connected with Oxford for most of his life. He went on to establish his drawing school at Oxford in 1871.

Ruskin was well known for his writing and also sketching. The Ashmolean Museum houses a significant amount of Ruskin’s work including detailed sketches and paintings of rocks, plants, birds, landscapes, architectural structures and ornamentation. The release of the pen dovetails with the opening of The Ashmolean Museum’s latest exhibition “Pre-Raphaelites Drawings and Watercolours” which will include a number of Ruskin’s works.

The Ashmolean Pen will also feature the Ashmolean’s founder Elias Ashmole’s hand-written ‘Statutes Orders & Rules’ heading on the barrel of each pen as a further link to the Museum and its history. The Ashmolean Museum is the world’s first public museum and the world’s first university museum. The Museum first opened its doors in 1683.

The pen will be sold in a presentation box and will include a bottle of ink plus a specially developed booklet that sets out the history of the Ashmolean Museum and gives an insight into John Ruskin’s life. The booklet was written by The Ashmolean Museum adding a further layer of authenticity to the partnership.

Conway Stewart, meanwhile, was founded in 1905. Conway Stewart’s pens were famous for their vibrant coloured and stylish pens in the 1920s. In the 1940s, the innovation designed into each made them Winston’s Churchill’s pen of choice. Its pens, including the Ashmolean pen, are designed and manufactured in the UK.

Ian Downes from Start Licensing said: “We are delighted to see The Ashmolean Museum and Conway Stewart working together. The Ashmolean pen is a unique and original product that makes great use of the Ashmolean’s collection and highlights their unique place in the Museum world.

“Conway Stewart is an expert in its field and has developed a fantastic product. We believe the Limited Edition will prove extremely popular and we hope the John Ruskin pen will be the first in a series of pens from the Ashmolean. Conway Stewart also delivers a strong marketing platform for the product and have access to a global community of pen collectors. It is a consumer group who we think will respond well to the Ashmolean’s collection.”

Dec McCarthy from the Ashmolean Museum, added: “This is a wonderful collaboration for the Ashmolean, and we are delighted to be associated with such an iconic brand as Conway Stewart.”

Alastair Adams MD of Conway Stewart, said: “I have loved working with the team at the Ashmolean Museum to produce this pen, doing the research and learning about the amazing collection on display in Oxford. I would urge all readers to visit this wonderful museum.”

Royal Horticultural Society plants major kids’ clothing deal with George

The Royal Horticultural Society has secured a new partnership with the award-winning George brand to produce a collection of children’s clothing and accessories to be made available in Asda stores across the UK from April 1st this year.

The new range will be aimed at kids aged one to seven years old and will span shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, dresses, shorts, boots, backpacks, and rainhats. It will include a selected mix of apparel for wearing in the garden, at picnics, during outings to the park, and more. With the British weather in mind, there will be items for both sunny and rainy days, too.

The collection is the result of a collaboration between the RHS and George who came together to create a unique print direction featuring hand-drawn illustrations of smiling vegetables, bright garden tools and colourful tractors. There are also slogans encouraging kids to connect with nature and grow plants and veg such as ‘I’m growing every day’, ‘You can find me in the back garden’, and ‘Let’s go and grow.’

To further underline the joys of gardening, swing tags have been designed in the shape of flower pots, while the RHS branding, highlighting the RHS tree and shield, is clearly visible on the sew-in tags and packaging.

The range launches on the 1st of April in Asda stores where it will be supported by a marketing campaign that will include consumer press releases, product placement and influencer support.

Launched in 1990, George is now sold in over 580 stores and through George.com with over two million customer transactions per week combined. George is a household name and has built up a reputation for quality, style and value, leading the changing face of British fashion over the past decades and making Asda one of the largest fashion retailers in Britain.

Estella Arroyo, product design profession lead at George, said: “This collaboration between George and the RHS is aimed at producing a collection of products that are beautiful to look at, great to wear and support a worthwhile message in a fun way. We are very proud to be collaborating with the RHS on this wonderful range which has been worked through by two companies who have the same values in mind. We‘re delighted with the final product which displays both quality and style and encourages children to get outside and grow.”

Cathy Snow, licensing manager, RHS, added: “This is our very first collaboration on children’s clothing and the results, in terms of products, packaging and design, have exceeded our expectations. And, of course, the whole range brilliantly supports our key message – to encourage everyone, no matter their age or ability, to ’get growing’. This line has been a joy to work on and I think it will delight its young target market as much as it has delighted us.”

US jeweller Martin Katz taps Prominent Brand + Talent to lead lifestyle brand plans

The American jewellery designer, Martin Katz has appointed Prominent Brand + Talent as the exclusive global brand representative for a new venture into the lifestyle brand space.

For over three decades, Katz has been recognised for creating international experiences spanning the famed Victoria’s Secret Black Diamond Fantasy Bra and Donna Karan’s million-dollar Golden Delicious frangrance bottle, to the Ray Ban sunglasses collaboration and more.

The new collaboration, however, will take Katz into the lifestyle space for the first time with the development of products across a range of categories including apparel, accessories, beauty, bridal, giftware, home decor, bedding, bath, electronics, spirits and wine, gourmet foods, and stationery.

Martin Katz retail stores will also launch to select cities around the world and hotel boutiques.

“I have enjoyed translating my vision for creating rare gemstones into a globally successful high jewelry business and have appreciated the opportunity to work with so many talented people over the years from the world of entertainment to heads of state and prominent business professionals,” said Katz.

“I look forward to working with Prominent Brand + Talent to share my aesthetic and artistic style with the launch of my new collection of affordable luxury products.”

 Prominent Brand + Talent’s Dan Levin and Steve Doctrow, added: “Martin’s new collection will embody his authentic style with products reflecting his mastery of both dazzling whimsy and elevated elegance, and we are thrilled to collaborate with him to build a lifestyle brand with best-in-class licensing and retail partners worldwide.”

“Over the course of his illustrious career, Martin has achieved literally billions of impressions globally with his celebrated jewelry worn by some of the most famous clientele, and we have no doubt his new line of lifestyle products will now be embraced by consumers who desire the unique MK style.”

 For more than 25 years on the Hollywood Red Carpet, Katz has bejeweled A-List celebrities, including Sharon Stone, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Nicole Kidman to name a few.

Las Vegas fitness brand Suddora teams up with Emoji for new headband range

The Las Vegas-based Suddora has partnered with the Emoji – The Iconic Brand for the launch of a range of Emoji branded headbands. The deal was brokered by Retail Monster LLC, the Emoji company’s North American licensing agent.

Suddora has built a reputation for providing a wide variety of high end athletic gear, including wristbands and accessories, as well as a recent expansion into headbands, arm sleeves, towels, hand warmers, and custom designs.

With the Emoji partnership now signed, Suddora believes the company will take to new heights.

Paul Serra of Suddora said: “We are so excited to launch Emoji brand themed headbands. The designs are so fun – our customers will love wearing them both for fitness and fashion.”

Marco Huesges, CEO and founder of The Emoji Company, added: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to team up with Suddora to launch a collection of headbands full of expression. Their headbands are high-quality and specifically designed for an active lifestyle – We’re proud to partner with such a respected company.”

The athleisure wear market has helped fuel a boost to the health and fitness market in recent years. In the space, Suddora has built a reputation for delivering considered lifestyle products that can be worn in the gym or to the grocery store.