The Metropolitan Museum of Art unveils new licensing partnerships

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced its new licensing partnerships across home décor, fashion accessories, gifting and educational games. Collectible clutch bags by Olympia Le Tan launched in September, while over the coming months, an exciting range of new products will be launched to consumers and the trade.

Inspired by the artworks and stories within its collection, the Met has worked closely with selected partners “who exhibit the highest level of creative development in their respective areas, from home textiles to social expressions”. Licensing partnerships include bedding and home accessories by Ann Gish (launching October 2021), giftable ceramic tabletop items by Ligne Blanche (winter 2021), case furniture by Abner Henry and Lingo educational games (both January 2020, Pura home fragrance, and paper goods and social expressions by Caspari (both spring 2022), and textiles, wallpaper and trim by Scalamandré (autumn 2022).

Six of the partnerships were sourced through the Met’s agency relationship with Beanstalk, the Met’s licensing agency for the US, Canada, EMEA and Japan. The remaining two – Olympia Le Tan and Ligne Blanche – were sourced by WildBrain CPLG.

Products will be available through partners’ distribution channels, and will be highlighted within the Met Store in New York. All proceeds from licensing revenues will support the Museum’s collection, study, conservation and presentation of over 5,000 years of art.

“We are thrilled and honoured to be working with these incredible companies, some of which, such as Scalamandré, have longstanding relations with the museum,” says Lisa Silverman Meyers, Global Head of Licensing and Partnerships for The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “We are so excited to see how they marry the heritage and the unique design sensibilities for which each company is known, to create offerings that are inspired by highlights from the Museum’s permanent collection.”

 

Olympia le Tan celebrates 62 years of Paddington with exclusive clutch bag collection

The French boutique retailer, Olympia le Tan, has partnered with Copyrights to launch am exclusive Paddington clutch bag collection, based on the first edition cover of Michael Bond’s ‘A Bear Called Paddington.’

The limited edition clutch features one of the most iconic illustrations by Peggy Fortnum and celebrates Paddington’s 62 year publishing and merchandising heritage.

Olympia le Tan is known for its beautifully designed, hand-stitched clutch bags, taking inspiration from literature, art and film. Each collection is limited to 77 pieces and each bag can take up to 300 hours to produce, creating a unique look and feel. 

The deal was brokered by StudioCanal Licensing, the agent for Paddington in France.


Valérie Rolandez-Barrios, director of licensing and partnerships at StudioCanal Licensing, said: “It is such a delight to work on Paddington and help develop the brand in France. Seeing this collaboration with Olympia le Tan come to life is wonderful. The Paddington clutch bag is a beautiful item and the result of a unique partnership.”

Aude Sergent, general manager for Olympia le Tan, added: “Collaborating with Paddington felt natural for our brand. We observed that we are all related to Paddington, we all know his crazy adventures and his unconditional love for marmalade.

“Embroidered on our bags, this classic of contemporary English literature gives us the opportunity to pay a tribute to this mythic book through the original illustration of Peggy Fortnum.”

The Laughing Cow partners with Olympia Le-Tan for exclusive new handbag design

The iconic food brand-turned lifestyle IP, The Laughing Cow – or, La vache qui rit – has partnered with Olympia Le-Tan, for a new take on its famed handbags.

Owned by Bel Groupe, The Laughing Cow chuckled its way onto the lifestyle licensing scene last year, when it launched a new communication platform in 2019 under the tagline, it’s better to laugh, building on its almost 100 year history in the public space.

Under its new partnership with Olympia Le-Tan, The Laughing Cow’s globally recognised emblem will now adorn a exclusive new handbag design, called dizzie La vache qui rit.

The new launch combines the iconic round shape and design of The Laughing Cow round cheese box, with the unique Olympia le-Tan touch, in a blue canard hand-embroidered silk thread.

The exclusive design comes with a price tag of around €740.