Baby and parent product label Marcus & Marcus eyes licensing move into toys, fashion, kitchen and more

The baby and parent product label, Marcus & Marcus is taking its first steps into the licensing space, having appointed LMG to help build brand awareness through a programme of new licensing partnerships.

Developed by two parents, Marcus & Marcus is recognised for its bold, bright and engaging animal friends designed to kep children engaged.  The brand strives to help families take on the challenges of parenting and simplify the everyday chaos.

Drawing from the brand’s ethos and commitment to safety, quality, and sustainability, LMG seeks licensee partners in lifestyle categories such as Children’s Fashion, Toys and STEM Toys, Bags and Luggage, Bedding, Toddler & Infant Products, and Home and Kitchen.

“We’re honored to add the Marcus & Marcus brand to our client roster and look forward to developing products and promotions that support young families and walk them through the ups and downs of parenting,” said Andrew Kwan, EVP LMG, Maxx Group.

“The adorable Marcus & Marcus animal friends inspire fun, fresh and unique designs. We will be guided by the needs and desires of modern parents in our approach, we’re looking for licensees that embrace the core brand principles of safety, innovation and sustainability,” said Eric Tong, senior licensing manager LMG, Maxx Group.

The three-year partnership between Marcus & Marcus and LMG will commence Spring 2021. LMG are currently seeking licensee partners in Children’s Fashion, Toys and STEM Toys, Bags & Luggage, Bedding, Toddler & Infant Products and Home & Kitchen.

Gucci to launch special collection based on hit anime series Bananya in Crunchyroll partnership

The global anime streaming brand, Crunchyroll has landed a new fashion collaboration with Gucci to launch a selection of special items featuring characters from the original Japanese anime series, Banyana. The anime follows the lives of a cast of tiny cats who live in bananas.

The special items created by Gucci include seven womenswear items – four G Loved base short-sleeve cotton t-shirts and three felted cotton sweatshirts, that are adorned with the playful Bananya characters.

The sunlight sweatshirt and short-sleeve t-shirt display the Bananya Bunch, the three younger siblings of Bananya. Tabby Bananya is featured with Bananya on a sugar pink hoodie and two short-sleeve t-shirts, which come in timeless black and lemonade colour options. The carefree and optimistic Bananya is featured on a sugar pink short-sleeve t-shirt and a mint green sweatshirt.

For women, there are two styles of trainers and a pair of slides that are all adorned with Bananya and Tabby Bananya. On the trainers, for both women and men, the two cats sit in their banana atop the Gucci green-red-green Web stripe. Meanwhile in jewellery, there is a coloured crystal and fabric brooch with the trio of cats that make up the Bananya Bunch, and one with Bananya on his own. A chain necklace in metal with gold finish featuring Bananya as a pendant fashioned out of crystals and enamel also features.

The Bananya series is produced by studio TMS Entertainment and both seasons can currently be streamed on Crunchyroll worldwide, outside of Asia.

Crunchyroll is a leading anime brand with more than four million subscribers and over 100 million registered users. The brand offers an anime library of more than 1000 titles and 30,000 episodes to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

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.”

Gola partners with Global Brands Group to launch new apparel collection across Europe

The British heritage sports brand, Gola and the European division of Global Brands Group Holding Limited, have signed an exclusive multi-year partnership to launch a new Gola-branded apparel collection, in a new deal brokered by IMG.

The new line will be available for purchase across Europe and Russia in selected fashion and department stores, beginning in February 2022. It will include t-shirts, sweatshirts, tracksuits, and jackets. Gola plans to extend the collection to include kids’ apparel, accessories, socks, sleepwear, and underwear.

“Gola is an iconic, beloved British brand that has built its reputation over 115 years,” said Eno Polo, president of Europe for Global Brands. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the brand and leveraging our expertise and resources throughout Europe at every stage of development, from concept and design right through to sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and marketing.

“This new collection stays true to Gola’s origins as a heritage sports brand, while offering contemporary authenticity and wearability.”

Founded in 1905, Gola is an internationally recognised lifestyle brand renowned for its British roots, personality and strong sporting heritage. The new apparel collection will celebrate this by merging original Gola styles with contemporary designs and the latest trends.

“Our customers expect the best combination of quality, heritage and on-trend design and this new apparel collection delivers all of that,” said Gola’s managing director, Tony Evans. “We’re extremely pleased to be partnering with Global Brands to launch this new range that builds on our sportswear pedigree with up-to-date styles that will appeal to both new and existing Gola fans.”

Natalie Horne, associate vice president of licensing at IMG, added: “We are really excited about this collaboration between Gola and Global Brands, and to be combining Gola’s unique style with the latest fashion trends for the brand’s first European-wide apparel collection. We have no doubt the new collection will be very popular.”

Boat Rocker Studios secures two UK partners for The Next Step in Cooneen and Kennedy Publishing

Boat Rocker Studios has detailed a UK licensing deal duo for its hit tween dance drama, The Next Step, partnering with Cooneen and Kennedy Publishing for clothing ranges and a magazine.

The garment designer, manufacturer, and supplier, Cooneen, has signed up for a new collection of apparel for audiences aged five to 16, with The Next step branded items across children and teen nightwear, loungewear including daywear, activewear, underwear, swimwear, and Snugz face coverings.

The range will be available from September 2021.

Meanwhile, Kennedy Publishing, a leading publisher in the children’s magazine sector, will launch a special one-off issue no.28 of ‘Totally Magazine – TNS Edition’ to launch on September 2nd 2021. It will carry insider info, cast news, interviews and fact/dance tips that fans of the show could wish for.

“The Next Step continues to have huge appeal and we’re delighted to be working with these best-in-class partners to offer fans even more choice with these fabulous new apparel collections from the award-winning team at Cooneen,” said Kate Schlomann, EVP brand management and content marketing, Boat Rocker Studios.

“Kennedy Publishing’s new magazine will be an essential read for all fans of the show, connecting them even more closely to the lives and journeys of the dancers of A-Troupe.”

Boat Rocker Studios is in production on some brand new at-home promotional content for CBBC. Specifically, a digital documentary that seeks to explore the experience of the black dancers of The Next Step, “Elevating Black Dancers” as well as three scripted promotional digital pieces that delve deeper into the drama of season season.

The Next Step, produced by Boat Rocker Studios, is an international hit, broadcast in more than 120 countries worldwide. It follows the trials, tribulations and triumphs of A-Troupe, a group of dancers at the Next Step dance studio. Now in its seventh series, the show has consistently been one of the most requested CBBC shows on iPlayer over the past five years, notching up more than six-million requests this year alone.

90 year old confectionery brand Fruit-tella eyes Gen Z move into fashion, digital gaming and more

The Italian-Dutch confectionery company Perfetti Van Melle and Licensing Matters Global (LMG), a London-based global licensing agency, have announced a long-term partnership to extend the 90-year-old candy brand, Fruit-tella.

Under the partnership, LMG will look to extend the sweet brand into selected lifestyle product categories via strategic licensing and retail efforts in the UK and Benelux.

Drawing from Fruit-tella’s DNA, the firm will be leveraging the brand’s strong associations with authentic fruit taste, playful colours and positivity to seek partner licensees in lifestyle categories such as fashion, health and beauty, scented candles, toys, stationery, travel accessories, and digital content. The partnership began in February 2021.

“At Perfetti Van Melle we are very excited that Licensing Matters, a brand expert with a genuine understanding of today’s market dynamics, will expand the Fruit-tella brand to innovative and authentic consumer products that are inspired by fruit and nature to offer the Fruit-tella fans more ways of enjoying the fruit experience they have been cherishing for 90 years,” said Christine Cool, licensing area manager of Perfetti Van Melle.

Felipe Noriega, VP and regional director EMEA, LMG, added: “We are thrilled to have been selected by the highly respected licensing team at PVM to help them execute this ambitious project.

“Fruittella’s strong commitment to sustainability and their relentless innovation to continue improving the health credentials of their popular treats are at the heart of our partnership selection process. We seek licensees that embrace and embody these core brand principles.”

Leila Loumi, global senior licensing director, LMG, added: “For young kids and tweens, we’re planning a fresh and colourful personal care range. We’ll be pursuing fun and vibrant make-up solutions for Generation Z-ers.  And we also plan to tap into Millennial and Generation X-ers’ sense of nostalgia for the Fruit-tella brand through fashion and digital gaming.”

Mattel partners with fashion company Zara to launch Barbie clothing collection

Mattel’s iconic fashion doll brand, Barbie has launched a new clothing collection with the international fashion company, Zara in a deal that marks the first time the two brands gave come together on a bespoke collaboration.

The consumer products partnership will roll out globally online and in-store and includes an eight piece female activewear collection, including hoodies, jogging trousers, long sleeve tops, t-shirts, shorts, and swimwear.

The clothing selected by the Zara fashion team for Barbie to wear showcases new creative images that are printed on two different tees that make up a part of the bigger collection all available to purchase online and in-store globally.

Additionally, a limited-edition of Barbie dolls will be sold on Zara online. The collection features two dolls, each wearing statement activewear stamped with “Zara Barbie 1959.” The Zara Barbie doll wears a cozy oversized-hoodie paired with joggers.

The doll is fully articulated and includes a doll stand and will retail at €34.95 (£29.99) with all proceeds going to Spanish charity Entreculturas.

Lisa Weger, head of consumer products Europe, said: “Barbie’s newest collaboration with Zara, reflects the latest spring trends in great style, perfectly tied with the power of the Barbie brand. We’re excited to see it come together in a strong and accessible collection that will attract Barbie and Zara fans around the world.

“The new collection will anniversary a Barbie line launched in summer 2020 that included a range of colourful printed t-shirts and bodysuits that leaned on the heritage of Barbie and its logo aesthetic. These products were exceptionally well received with its customers and fans of Barbie, and this new partnership aims to build on this success.”

Iconix Brand Group celebrates 50 years of Starter with Zara spring/summer capsule collection

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the athletic brand, Starter, the Iconix Brand Group has scored a new partnership with the global high street brand, Zara to develop and sell a capsule collection for spring/summer 2021.

Established in 1971, the Starter brand quickly became an innovator in global sports brands by connecting fans with their favourite teams and players, and pioneering the fusion of sports clothing with popular culture by partnering with major professional sports leagues, colleges, Olympic sports, and individual athletes.

What began with the now iconic star logo and the idea that ‘Every athlete dreams of being a starting player,’ the brand went on to become a leading part of sports fans’ lives. Starter quickly expanded beyond sport, drawing influence from music and pop culture, too, with key moments including Joe Torre of the New York Mets stepping onto the field wearing the first authentic Starter satin jacket.

Daisy Laramy-Binks, managing director of Iconix Europe, said: “I am delighted to see the iconic global Starter brand and the powerhouse that is Zara come together for this exciting partnership which will provide the Zara customer with a fashion-forward take on American heritage sportswear at its best.”

The multi-category collection for spring/summer 2021 to mark the 50th celebration will include pieces such as women’s T-shirts, a vest dress, crop top, shorts, joggers, reversible bucket hat, and a bodysuit. The color story will encapsulate Spring Summer hues of pink, white and the Starter brand’s signature blue, to give a contemporary sports-inspired look.

Zara has become a key fast fashion High Street retailer, with the parent company Inditex selling in 202 markets through its online platform or its over 7,000 stores in 96 markets, Zara has the highest store count of 2,118 across all of the Inditex brands.

Nurturing a highly intimate relationship with its customers, Zara’s designers respond instinctively to their changing needs, reacting to the latest trends and constant feedback received across its Woman, Man and Kids’ collections, to deliver new ideas in the right place and at the right moment.

The collection is now available on Zara.com and in select stores Internationally (where permissible due to the lockdown restrictions).