License Magazine - August 2007 - (Page 40) outlook ’08 FASHION FILE Dolled Up Mattel stitched a deal with Mighty Fine for three distinct Barbie collections that will be offered in a variety of styles under the Mighty Fine, Public Library, and Doe labels. A hip Barbie-branded collection of Ts, knit tops, and fleece for juniors and adults will debut in the fall at hip boutiques, specialty stores, and department stores nationwide. A modernized Barbie will grace the new line, which features new fashion bodies and redrawn art designed for fashionistas of all ages. Suggested retails will range from $28 to $60. Mighty Fine also will unveil three Barbie styles this fall with Public Library, which will add seven new styles for spring 2008. Doe also will unveil five new Barbie styles in the fall. These embody Barbie’s “carefree lifestyle” over the past several decades. The collection will be available at select specialty, boutique, and department stores nationwide. In addition, Mighty Fine inked a deal with Fisher-Price for its Mighty Fine and Mini Fine brands. A line of hip nostalgic Ts for adults and toddlers, as well as onesies, featuring classic Fisher-Price art will roll out in the fall at boutiques, specialty stores, and department stores. Suggested retails will range from $23 to $50. “Barbie and Fisher-Price are exciting collaborations for us and we plan to continue building on these long-term growth opportunities,” says Justin Watson, marketing director, Mighty Fine. Mickey Masterpieces Artists Slick, Mear One, David Flores, Steven Daily, and Greg Simkins collaborated with Disney for the launch of BLOC28 by Disney—a new fashion label that debuts this month at specialty shops around the world, including Los Angeles’ Span of Sunset and New York City’s New Era. Each artist developed a piece of Mickey-inspired art in his own signature style, resulting in a hip collection of T-shirts, hats, pillows, and vinyl toys that target the underground art community. The new label connects today’s contemporary art culture with Disney’s iconic Mickey Mouse character.This artist collaboration is not the first of its kind for Disney, which in recent years has engaged with today’s underground art community by launching artrelated projects for Chicken Little and Tinker Bell, and with Los Angeles’ Gallery 1988. In recent years, Disney also collaborated with renowned designers to bring a fashionable flair to classic characters such as Tinker Bell, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse. Clint Hayashi, a spokesperson for Disney, says,“Other home categories are of particular interest, specifically pillows and stationery.” In the Bag InGroup Licensing recently signed on to represent Botkier, a handbag brand that launched in 2003. Founder Monica Botkier, a fashion photographer, spent her days racing through the streets of downtown Manhattan loaded with all the essential items a fashion photographer must tote around. Searching for an easier way to organize her belongings, Botkier decided to create her own bag—one that was spacious, yet chic enough to be trotted in front of the industry’s scrutinizing eye. Functional and wearable, yet stylish and detailed, the Botkier bag is known for its designer details such as supple leathers, vibrant colors, and custom-crafted hardware. The bags, which have been snapped up by Barney’s New York, Fred Segal, Harvey Nichols, and Neiman Marcus, are also available in Japan, Scandinavia, and the UK. Lauren Redish, InGroup’s senior manager of domestic licensing, says, “Accessories will be a key area of expansion.” 40 www.licensemag.com August 2007 http://www.licensemag.com
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