OAKLAND, Calif. – Courtsmith, the sports uniform brand founded by Courtney “Court” Smith, has won a $300,000 investment from ICA, a non-profit that supports investments in companies to “close the racial and gender wealth gaps” with a vision of creating an economy that works for all. Smith began by sellingMORE HERE
MILAN and GREENWICH, Conn., July 18, 2021 – Etro, the global luxury fashion house, announced on July 18, 2021 that it well sell a majority stake in the company to L Catterton, the private equity firm. Under the terms of the agreement, the Etro family will remain a minority shareholder withMORE HERE
MIAMI – The Miami shirt maker Ramon Puig Guayaberas “La Casa de la Guayabera,” has reopened after closing during the Covid pandemic. The 77-year-old brand, located on historic Eighth Street, or “Calle Ocho”, closed in August 2020, but has reopened on the same street. The guayabera is a button downMORE HERE
NASHVILLE – Workwear Outfitters, formerly known as VF Workwear, is now part of Redwood Capital Investments LLC. Workwear Outfitters is a supplier of work apparel and footwear employing more than 5,800 people in facilities spanning the globe. Brands under the Workwear Outfitters umbrella include Red Kap (c. 1923), Bulwark (1990), andMORE HERE
LONDON – The news that the Marks & Spencer Group Plc of the U.K. purchased (or perhaps rescued) the fashion brand Jaeger for a reported meager £5 million pounds is the result of a changing retail market that has put thousands of retailers out of business worldwide. For over 100MORE HERE
LOS ANGELES – The brand-licensing agency Global Icons is now representing the fashion brand Camp Beverly Hills. Originally launched in 1977, the first store was located off Rodeo Drive. Throughout the 1980s, the brand expanded and was sold in major department and specialty stores nationwide. At its height, Camp BeverlyMORE HERE
The historic U.S. watch brand Benrus has a new owner, and a new lease on life, after a failed revival by a Rhode Island entrepreneur. Investor Michael Sweeney, assisted by former Bulova exec Michael Goeller, is reviving the brand, which was founded in 1921. The current effort follows the unsuccessfulMORE HERE
SARASOTA – The brand Jack Tar Togs, which helped to popularize the sailor suit for American youths and women for most of the 20th century, has returned. The brand was originally marketed to youth and schools, and well known in school and women’s uniforms. The company’s signature garment was theMORE HERE
NEW YORK – One of the great books read to me by my grandmother, a Sophie Newcomb educated potter by the name of Margaret Clarkson Pollard, were Hans Christian Anderson’s tales. Perhaps the most memorable was “The Emperor’s New Clothes” about an emperor, crooked weavers, and child who dared to beMORE HERE
Our occasional ventures into oddlots, dollar stores and the like deliver quite special brand extensions and brand licensing. Our tops for today (and we admit we spotted this over Christmas at a Tuesday Morning) were an Izod branded leash and tennis ball set, and a Laura Ashley dog pen. Sorry AlligatorMORE HERE