Tag Archives: Transport For London

The London Sock Exchange puts best foot forward with TfL Collection

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The London Sock Exchange has launched its TfL Collection – a range of socks developed in collaboration with Transport for London, celebrating the city’s most iconic transport through the medium of yarn. The deal was secured by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agency.

The London Sock Exchange team has worked closely with the TfL brand and design team to create six distinct pairs of socks. The socks have been knitted using The London Sock Exchange’s signature 200-needle knitting process – giving each pair a finer, stronger, more comfortable finish, and next-level detail in design. The socks are available in single pairs (£12) or special edition giftboxes (£30 or £60) from thelondonsockexchange.net.

  • The Tube Inspired by the London Underground trains – this pair features a Tube train spiralling around the wearer’s ankle.
  • The Routemaster Inspired by the world’s most famous bus: the double-decker red Routemaster – this pair features an all-over pattern made of buses rendered in isometric, 3D form.
  • The Platform Inspired by the platform safety graphics including yellow and white lines, and the ‘Mind The Gap’ mantra – this pair features a simple monochrome graphic with yellow and white lines.
  • Tickets, Please Inspired by London’s Oyster cards, travelcards and railway tickets – this pair features an all-over pattern built up of colourful tickets familiar to any Londoner.
  • The Gingerline & The H&C Inspired by Harry Beck’s iconic map of the London Underground. These socks feature repeat patterns made up of interchange stations as represented on TfL’s line diagrams – creating a polka-dot style sock with a London twist.

A promotional campaign featuring striking photography shot on the TfL network is set to run across national and social media.

“TfL owns a unique, vibrant and rich history, represented by iconic design such as the roundel and tube map,” says Jo Edwards, Head of Global Licensing, TSBA Group. “At their British studio, The London Sock Exchange took these assets to create exclusive designs which feel playful, contemporary and full of charm.”

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at Transport for London, adds: “This creative collaboration celebrates the instantly recognisable and historic design of London’s transport network, showcasing classic British heritage with a twist. By using eye-catching designs such as the iconic Routemaster bus, as well as modern designs like the Oyster card in the range, these new products are a great way for people to take a little bit of London with them wherever they go.”

To view the socks, visit  https://thelondonsockexchange.net/pages/tfl-lookbook , and http://thelondonsockexchange.net/

For more information on the collaboration, or to find out how you can partner with the TfL brand, contact TSBA at enquiries@tsbagroup.com.

TSBA Group secures adidas and Arsenal collaboration with Transport for London

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adidas and Arsenal have today launched a collection in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL) to celebrate the historic connection between the football club and the London Underground. The collaboration was brokered by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agent.

Available from today, the range celebrates Arsenal station – the only Underground station to be named after a football club, following its change from Gillespie Road in 1932.

The collection is inspired by the seat pattern or “moquette” that appears on the Piccadilly line trains that run through Arsenal Tube station and the bold and disruptive all-over print is seen on the prematch jersey and warm top, which the players will wear to warm up in ahead of games between now and the end of the season.

There are five pieces in the range, which also includes a youth jersey – matching the adult shirts – as well as a reversible padded vest and pant, both of which have navy base colour and subtle Arsenal Tube station sign-off.

Julie Dixon, Head of Customer Information, Design & Partnerships at Transport for London (TfL), says: “It’s been great to collaborate with adidas and Arsenal on this new pre-match range, which reflects our iconic Piccadilly line moquette. Arsenal Tube station has had a deep relationship with the football club for almost 90 years and for staff and fans alike – there is nothing quite like the atmosphere and excitement on a match day. We look forward to seeing fans around the world wearing this eye-catching new pre-match range.”

As part of the campaign, adidas has also teamed up with London-based artist and Arsenal fan Reuben Dangoor to create and design a special, limited-edition Oyster card.

Consumers can have the chance of claiming the card, which is pre-loaded with £15, by purchasing an article in the range via the adidas app. There is also a chance to win one via a first-come-first-served free to enter opportunity to adidas Creator Club members.

The range will be available across adidas.com, in store as well as at Arsenal official club stores and selected retailers.

For the chance to claim a bespoke Reuben Dangoor designed Oyster Card, visit adidas.co.uk/adidasapp.

For further information on the TfL brand, contact enquiries@tsbagroup.com

The London Toy Company launches its first TfL train sets all made from recyclable plastics

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The London Toy Company has lifted the lid on its venture into new toy categories this year, with the launch of its Transport for London licensed train set and trains, all made from recyclable plastic.

The new launch marks the first time that The London Toy Company has entered the plastic toys market, having made a name for itself in the plush sector, working with a wealth of reputable licensing partners, including TfL.

Following a two year period of product development, the curtain has been drawn to reveal the firm’s new London Underground Electric Train Set (£39.99), which includes a track and tunnels made from cardboard that can be constructed at home. Having worked closely with TfL engineers, the track presents an authentic shape and feel to a London Tube station, and features an included sound module, reminding fans to ‘Mind The Gap’.

The new line-up also includes a standalone entry level model of the newest S Stock trains on the system, priced at £7.99.

“It’s all very exciting for us to be expanding on our ever-successful Underground soft toy range with a raft of new products for all ages and budgets,” Joel Berkowitz, founder and director of The London Toy Company, told Licensing.biz.

“Although our soul lies in soft toys, we had fantastic opportunities to expand into the plastic/hardlines category with our licensors. The price point for our new products will fit well into the pocket money category which was a key area we have been wanting to access.”

Early reaction to the toy line has been extremely positive, Berkowitz has revealed, with clients already telling the team that its new Underground Train Set ‘will be the star of the show this Christmas. Many have also championed the company’s decision to use recyclable materials in the production of its new range.

“We have committed to offsetting our carbon footprint and that’s why we have taken the decision to ensure all of our new plastic toys are made from recyclable materials, and are also recyclable themselves,” said Berkowitz.

“TfL is all about encouraging a greener lifestyle and what better way to emphasise this with sustainably manufactured toys that capture the brands’ identity and values.”

Already on board to stock the range this season are the likes of Very.co.uk. Amazon, and IWOOT, while Berkowitz is filled with surety that the range “will fly” at wider retail.

The company has since teased numerous developments across other key brands within the portfolio and strong performances with Harry Potter and JCB.

“We are also working directly on projects with a number of clients such as Boeing, The Tank Museum, Merseyrail, Goodwood, RAF, Steven Brown Art and other on some incredible new toys,” said Berkowitz.

“Over the last year and a half, I have experienced the roller coaster of extreme pessimism, and extreme optimism.. Collapsed tunnels, yet also tunnels with the brightest light at the end. What I can say is that we have emerged from Covid in ways I had never imagined.

“Silver lining really are a thing. Stay focussed, stay passionate, and do the things you don’t always want to do… and and have fun.”

 

British fashion brand Gresham Blake launches limited edition TfL apparel collection

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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

Bimber Distillery partners with Transport for London to launch The Spirit of the Underground collection

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London’s award-winning Bimber Distillery has launched its “The Spirit of the Underground” collection of single malt whiskies, each featuring a different station on the London Underground network. The partnership between the distillery and Transport for London was brokered by the brand’s global licensing agency, TSBA Group.

The launch range showcases four well-known Tube stations: Waterloo, Baker Street, King’s Cross St Pancra, and Oxford Circus, with each bottle featuring stylish iconography presenting a unique piece of London’s history. Each comes adorned with an eye-catching label and packaging design that observes the significance of each station’s location.

The four initial releases of the collection have been selected from the distillery’s finest ex-bourbon casks and are offered at full cask strength and without chill filtration. Each reveals a highly individual, but perfectly balanced merger of aroma and flavour that reflects the passion and craft of Bimber.

The cask selected for the Baker Street expression was chosen by the members of the 2020 Bimber Klub Tasting Panel – the distillery’s rapidly growing membership community.

 Speaking of the launch, Bimber spokesperson Matt McKay said: “We’re delighted to unveil this exciting new partnership and the first expressions of The Spirit of the Underground Collection. As we approach the fifth anniversary of our spirit, this collaboration with Transport for London celebrates both one of the great engineering projects of the past 200 years and the ongoing development of our spirit. Bimber is very much a product of London and we’re thrilled to showcase our single malt whisky in this most incredible way.”

With 270 stations on the network to select from, The Spirit of the Underground Collection is intended to grow alongside Bimber. New expressions will be added in batches (four single casks at a time) populating each of the Underground’s 11 lines and reflecting the vibrancy and multiplicity of the stations and locations throughout the capital city.

Julie Dixon, head of customer information design and partnerships at Transport for London, said: “This imaginative collaboration really shows off the visual splendour of our historic and instantly recognisable Underground network. It’s been great to work with a London-based distillery to create this collection and we hope fans of whisky will enjoy this collection as it grows.”

Release one of The Spirit of the Underground Collection will be available later this month with an RRP of £125 per bottle. Release two, which will feature four more iconic London Underground stations, is scheduled to be unveiled over the coming months.

All the expressions in The Spirit of the Underground Collection were crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site constructed American oak washbacks.

Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills which possess an increased copper surface area, which results in a rich fruit-forward, layered spirit. 

Gibsons extends its partnership with Transport for London in new deal via the TSBA Group

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Following record sales of its London Underground-inspired card game, Mind the Gap, the family owned jigsaw and board game outfit, Gibsons has expanded its partnership with Transport for London.

In a deal brokered by TSBA Group – the licensing agent for Transport for London – Gibsons will produce a raft of new branded products to complement the 2017 best-seller that has to date found particular success across retailers such as WH Smith, Amazon, John Lewis, and Waterstones.

Gibsons will now be growing its TfL licensed collection with the release of four jigsaw puzzles this spring, followed by two brand new games and additional puzzles later in the year.

In keeping with both Gibsons’ and TfL’s mission to become more sustainable, the new products will be produced using minimal single-use plastic. Made in the UK, the jigsaws will be manufactured using the thickest, 100 per cent recycled board and FSC approved paper.

The jigsaw puzzles will be available in 250, 500 and 1000 pieces and feature the iconic Underground maps and roundels, as well as a selection of the most popular graphics from Transport for London’s expansive poster archive.

The two new games have been developed in collaboration with talented game designers. They give fans the opportunity to competitively build Zone 1 of the tube map or race across London visiting famous stations while completing tasks along the way.

Julie Dixon, head of customer information, design and partnerships at Transport for London, said: “London’s transport network is recognised the world over and has been a symbol of the city for more than 150 years. We are excited to be continuing our relationship with Gibsons and develop new products with them to delight people young and old, while also generating vital funds for wider transport improvements across London.”

Emily Charles, product development manager at Gibsons, added: “We are so pleased to be working with TfL once again. Mind the Gap continues to be hugely successful and we have high hopes for these new products joining the card game at the top of our best sellers list.

“The London Underground is recognised all over the world, so it’s great to work with such a famous brand and increase our TfL collection.”