The NBA on ESPN line includes T-shirts and hoodies from VF Imagewear, retro-influenced lifestyle T-shirts and hoodies from Sportiqe Apparel, fitted and adjustable hats from New Era Cap, novelty street signs and pennants from Wincraft and exclusive basketballs from Spalding. In addition, VF Imagewear and Wincraft have designed items with player nicknames and Sportiqe has produced illustrated tees.

“Launching a co-branded merchandise line that complements our NBA on ESPN RV campaign is a great way to extend the campaign to our fans,” says Chris Brush, ESPN’s vice president of marketing. “The illustrated T-shirts and other products in the collection showcase the humorous side of the NBA players and on-air talent who really resonate with fans.”

The three-year deal sees the production of layettes, blankets, bibs, body suits, tanks, socks, tights, leggings, slipper socks and booties. The line will launch this fall at retail. The deal was brokered by the Joester Loria Group on behalf of Baby Genius.

The Target pop-up shop for its exclusive Zac Posen collection will be open for 24 hours. The line launch will coincide with music performances by the Like and D.J.

The complete Zac Posen line will hit Target stores nationwide on April 25. The women’s collection, retailing from $16.99 to $199.99, features dresses, swimwear, skirts, tops, shorts and accessories, as well as a suit.

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Licensee Adjmi Cynosure Holdings will produce juniors’ sportswear, handbags, belts, scarves, hats, hair accessories and socks and hosiery for the collection. Footwear will roll out in October at the retailer.

“Selena Gomez is a positive role model for teens and her fans all over the world look to her for style inspirations,” says John Goodman, executive vice president of apparel and home fashion at Sears Holdings, Kmart’s parent company. “We are delighted to offer our customers the opportunity to emulate her style with affordable apparel and footwear options.”

Gomez is the star of Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.” She is also cast in Twentieth Century Fox’s upcoming film Ramona and Beezus, which hits theaters on July 23. Gomez also recently released her first recording album, “Kiss & Tell,” from Hollywood Records.

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Both brands are featuring selections of original and vintage tees under the Roma, Casa Luker, Lulu and La Central labels.
Chucho and Palomita were created by Molly Robbins, a Mexico City native. She has secured exclusive rights to use trademarks and vintage art from a number of Latino companies, as well as creating her own designs. Both brands are manufactured by DLI and are distributed by West Coast Novelty. WCN also has relationships with NFL, NBA and MLB.

In other Walmart news, the retailer plans to begin selling 3-D televisions leading up to the holiday shopping season. Other retailers such as Best Buy, Sears and Amazon.com have already begun carrying 3-D TVs.

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Hat World plans to convert its Sports Fan-Attic, 37 in all, into Lids Locker Room stores. The company currently operates seven Lids Locker Room stores. Hat World acquired Sports Fan-Attic in 2009. The stores offer licensed sports headwear, apparel, accessories and novelties.

In addition, Hat World will transition its Impact Sport business into Lids Team Sports. Impact Sports, acquired in 2008, is a full-service team dealer, custom screen printer, embroidery and sporting goods distributor. Hat World has also rolled out a new Lids Team Sports logo and Web site at www.lidsteamsports.com.

“Under the Lids brand umbrella, we are building three, interrelated businesses—the hat business, the fan-oriented specialty chain and the wholesale team sport business,” says Kenneth Kocher, president of Hat World. “Our goal is to have the customer think of Lids first—whether they are thinking about the teams they play for or the teams they root for. We see lots of synergies in the way we market to this customer—for example, with loyalty programs that reward consumers for their overall business with Lids and with a common customer database supporting cross-selling capabilities.”

Hat World currently operates more than 900 mall-based, airport, street-level and factory outlet stores in the U.S. Canada and Puerto Rico.

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Beginning on Oct. 1, Adidas/NBA apparel will be available in Europe, coinciding with the EA Sports’ NBA Europe Live tip-off. The collection will include the on-court line, including authentic, swingman and replica versions of NBA player jerseys, as well as authentic team warm-up lines, shooting shirts, practice wear and Adidas Techfit base-layer compression and padded compression undergarments. In addition, the Adidas Originals brand will offer NBA Soul swingman jerseys, inspired by the NBA’s line of Hardwood Classics Nights products, as well as jerseys from popular NBA legends.

“The expansion of Adidas’ apparel rights in Europe gives us a true global
partnership that aligns perfectly with our collective strategy to continue
growing the game of basketball,” says Sal LaRocca, executive vice president of NBA Global Merchandising. “As the NBA continues to grow in popularity throughout Europe, authentic Adidas NBA apparel will be available to more fans than ever before.”

In other related news, Adidas and NBA have designed a new apparel line in anticipation of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, called The Gol! Collection. The line includes a T-shirt designed to resemble a soccer jersey and a matching track jacket with graphics celebrating the history of each soccer team. The collection is available in Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Lakers and Nuggets at www.nbastore.com. The Sports Authority, Dick’s Sporting Goods and team retail stores will also carry the line.

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Supergirl by Nastia, targeted to girls ages 8 to 12, will feature active fleece, dresses and tunics, knit pants, signature Supergirl tees, dancewear, fashion leggings and shrug tops. The line, which will also be available at www.jcp.com, will retail from $20 to $38.

“Supergirl by Nastia provides our customers an affordable and accessible clothing brand that embodies Nastia’s strong, active and independent lifestyle and we look forward to introducing this brand to our customers this back-to-school season,” says Clark McNaught, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of JCPenney’s children’s division. “The launch of Supergirl by Nastia underscores our commitment to deliver stylish, affordable brands that respond to the needs of our customers. And as the exclusive retailer of this exciting new brand, it provides yet another compelling reason for customers to shop with JCPenney and strengthens our position as a leading destination for children’s apparel.”

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The latest licensees include:

• TV Mania, Collective Brands, Mlab Concepts and Aykroyds for apparel
• Simon & Schuster U.K., Egmont U.K. and Egmont VGS, Random House and Alligator Publishing for publishing
• Herding Heimtextil for bedding
• Trends International, Alpha U.K., Paperline Designs, Union-Transit Company for stationery
• Procos for party paperware
• Pyramid International for posters and badges
• Sandylion for accessories
• Rubies for dress-up
• Toyster for puzzles
• Vast Sky for backpacks

The film has already signed Spin Master as the master global toy partner for action figures, vehicles and role-play items; Paramount as global DVD partners; and THQ as global interactive games partner.

The Last Airbender hits theaters on July 2.

In MTV Networks International news, the following programming sales were made: “MTV Unplugged,” featuring Katy Perry, to Switzerland’s SF; Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Global Edition” to Iceland’s 375 Media; “The Hills” and “My Super Sweet 16” to Ireland’s TG4; “American Mall” and “Rocko’s Modern Life” to Denmark’s DR Ramasjang; “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “TDS Global Edition,” both one-year extensions, to French-speaking Africa’s Canal Plus Horizons; “The Troop,” “Double Dare,” “El Tigre,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender” to Georgia’s Teleimedi; “Mind of Mencia” (seasons 1 to 4), “Trigger Happy TV” (season 3) and “Dave Attell” to Sky Mexico; “Jackass” to Panama’s TVN; and “Rugrats,” a renewal, to Ecuador’s Ecuavisa.

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CPLG Sport, the exclusive commercial partner of St Andrews Links, facilitated the arrangement.

Brooks Brothers will manage all product design, development and distribution activities in partnership with St Andrews Links and the collection will be distributed worldwide through Brooks Brothers’ retail stores, catalogs and Web site, as well as in select on-course and off-course retail locations. The collection will also be featured at St Andrews in The Old Course Shop and on its online shop.

In advance of the spring 2011 launch, Brooks Brothers has created a limited-edition men’s polo shirt commemorating The 2010 Open Championship, known in the U.S. as The British Open. The performance pique polo shirt will be uniquely numbered from 1 to 2010 and is available in royal blue, honoring the 2010 Open. The polo will be on sale at The Old Course Shop (St Andrews, Scotland) in April and at select Brooks Brothers stores in June.

“It’s the perfect pairing of two legendary brands,” says Claudio Del Vecchio, chairman and chief executive officer of Brooks Brothers. “Brooks Brothers’ iconic products with St Andrews’ unparalleled history in the world of golf makes it a winning combination. The opportunities to expand both brands’ reach and visibility is tremendous.”

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Luxottica will produce the sunglasses under an accessories label, called MDG. The range, which will retail from $248 to $289, will be available in May at Dolce & Gabbana stores worldwide, as well as at the Sunglass Hut chain and select opticians.
“MDG shows the diversity and range of brands and opportunities under MG Icon umbrella,” says Neil Cole, chief executive officer and chairman of Iconix Brand Group. “We look forward to the growth potential of this collection which aligns designing duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana’s expertise with Madonna’s vision.”

This is the first co-branded partnership for Dolce & Gabbana.

Last week, MG Icon secured a direct-to-retail license deal with Macy’s for a Material Girl juniors’ collection.

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“This is a unique opportunity to bring together two premier companies, each with iconic brands, which will deliver enhanced opportunities for our stockholders, business partners, customers and employees as we leverage a combined global platform in the years ahead,” says Emanuel Chirico, chairman and chief executive officer of PVH. “During almost four years as a private company under the leadership of Fred Gehring and his team, Tommy Hilfiger has continued to gain momentum in Europe and Asia, while successfully rebuilding its business in North America, producing impressive overall performance and generating strong profitability and free cash flow even during the recession.”

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, Tommy Hilfiger’s revenue is expected to hit $2.25 billion. The brand spans menswear, womenswear, children’s apparel and denim and through licensees, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings.

“This is the next phase in the global evolution and expansion of the Tommy Hilfiger brand,” says Tommy Hilfiger. “I am confident that Manny Chirico and the PVH organization will provide Tommy Hilfiger with the support and investment to allow my great partners in the Tommy Hilfiger organization to do what is necessary to take our brand to new heights. I look forward to remaining actively involved in the business and believe that PVH is the ideal partner to help us achieve our goals.”

Hilfiger will remain on board as a principal designer and brand visionary and Fred Gehring will continue are chief executive officer of Tommy Hilfiger. In addition, Gehring will become chief executive officer of PVH’s international operations and will join the board of directors.

Phillips-Van Heusen owns and markets Calvin Klein, as well as licensed brands, Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Unlisted, Michael Michael Kors, Sean John, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, Joe Joseph Abboud, DKNY and Timberland.

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The line, which will be branded under the Ecko Unltd., Eckored and Marc Ecko Cut & Sew labels, will include sheets, duvets, shams, bedding accessories, bath accessories, bath towels and rugs. It will be sold at high-end department stores and specialty retailers.

“We are excited about the opportunity to produce what today’s young consumers desire most—products that are trend-defining, thought-provoking and engaging,” says Joan Karron, executive vice president of CHF Industries. “The collection will include details that are synonymous with the brand, including collegiate tailoring with bold graphics, striking embellishments and a serious youthful edge.”

Iconix Brand Group owns a 51 percent controlling interest in the Ecko intellectual property.

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The Material Girl apparel collection, designed by Madonna and her daughter Lourdes, will roll out to approximately 200 Macy’s stores and www.macys.com in August in time for back-to-school. Additional categories will also launch, including footwear, handbags and jewelry, as well as a fragrance in 2011. The line will retail from $12 to $40.

The direct-to-retail deal with Macy’s includes the option to launch additional brands with MG Icon.

“We believe that Material Girl will be a dynamic exclusive brand for Macy’s and we look forward to working with Madonna, Lourdes and the Iconix team,” says Jeff Gennette, Macy’s chief merchandising officer. “Madonna is a fashion icon who can bring a new dimension to our juniors customer. Material Girl will enhance the excitement of fast fashion at Macy’s.”

In the joint-venture deal between Iconix and Madonna, MG Icon will develop and seek out business opportunities in the U.S. and worldwide, including the creation and acquisition of brands. MG Icon will be 50 percent owned by Iconix and 50 percent owned by an entity controlled by Madonna and Guy Oseary.

“Madonna is a legend in the world of music, fashion and entertainment and now with her deep involvement in MG Icon we will be able to leverage her vision into consumer products globally,” says Neil Cole, chief executive officer and chairman of Iconix Brand Group. “Our strategy is to introduce brands formed through the joint venture in multiple countries and organically expand worldwide.”

Iconix Brand Group consumer brands include Candie’s, Bongo, Badgley Mischka, Joe Boxer, Rampage, Mudd, London Fog, Roca Wear and Starter. The company also owns an interest in the Artful Dodger, Ed Hardy, Ecko, Marc Ecko and Zoo York brands.

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Hybrid Apparel is currently testing BSA-branded men’s, women’s and children’s apparel at 20 Target stores. If successful, the line will launch nationally at Target. Hybrid’s other retail partners include Walmart and Kmart.

This spring, Walmart will offer personalized fleece blankets from Manual Woodworkers and Weavers, where customers can visit an in-store photography kiosk and customize the product with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts designs, as well as with personal photos.

In addition, Camfour is producing a special-edition Ruger 22 rifle to roll out this spring at independent sporting goods and specialty stores, as well as Bass Pro Shops and Cabella’s.

Other partners include:

• Lladro for a 9-inch by 4-inch collectible “Classic Scout” porcelain figure, featuring illustrations by Norman Rockwell and the uniform worn in the 1970s (available now at Lladro Boutiques, www.lladro.com and select retail stores)
• W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery for six pocketknives, featuring the BSA logo on the handle and steel blade (April)
• Taylor Brands for the Schrade Old Timer and Schrade Uncle Henry pocketknife collection in a variety of styles, including collector’s tin (available now at specialty stores, mass market, regional chain and national chains)
• Sykel Enterprises for a 48-inch by 60-inch fabric print (available now at Walmart, Mary Jo’s Cloth and Hancock Fabric, as well as fabric stores and online)

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The latest partners include:

• Cra-Z-Art for art kits, including paint-by-number, pencil-by-number, fuzzy posters, craft kits, paints, pencils and a full line of art supplies (specialty and mass retailers)
• The Mountain for T-shirts, tank tops and dresses (specialty, mid-tier, department stores and mass)
• Saturday Knight Limited for home décor panels, curtains and bath towels, rugs and accessories (mid-tier, department stores and mass)
• KNG America for accent light boxes, lamps, home décor items and lenticular back-lit wall art (large retailers and specialty stores)
• Joanna Sheen for international distribution of CDs for paper crafts, scrapbooking and card making, featuring Thomas Kinkade images (online, TV infomercials, specialty and craft stores)
• International Greetings for paper and stationery products for fundraising activities (fundraising channels)
• Icon Shoes for shoes, handbags and small leather goods (mid-tier and department stores)
• Sherwood Brands for seasonal gift sets, baskets and containers (specialty, mid-tier, department stores and mass)

The new products are expected to be available this summer for some of the licensees. Others will be in stores by holiday 2010, as well as some later launches in 2011.

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The new footwear range is an expansion of Marvel’s relationship with Reebok, which began in spring 2008 with the launch of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk children’s sneakers.

“The co-branded partnership with Reebok and retail support at Finish Line enables Marvel to further maximize the exposure of the brand and expand our presence in key distribution channels,” says Paul Gitter, president of consumer products for North America, Marvel Entertainment. “Based on the consumer reaction to our previous collections with Reebok, we are sure the new Spider-Man sneakers will be a hit with kids and parents alike.”

Marvel Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

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The line will include branded sheets, duvets, shams, bedding and bath accessories, bath towels and rugs. The items will be available this fall at high-end department stores and specialty home retailers.

“We are excited about the opportunity to offer Kate Spade New York’s distinctive appeal to a broad range of consumers shopping for their homes,” says Joan Karron, executive vice president of CHF Industries. “The collection will include details that are synonymous with the brand, including fresh color, charming prints, classic fabrics and signature trims.”

CHF Industries’ other licenses include Donna Karan Home Collection, DKNY, Roxy, Quiksilver, Dockers, Daisy Fuentes and Umbra.

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The new fashion brands include Ellen Tracy for women’s better sportswear, Kouture by Kimora for young trendsetter apparel, Threads & Heirs for men’s casualwear and mstylelab for jewelry and hair accessories for young contemporary consumers. The home line expansions include multiple mattress styles for the Martha Stewart Collection and casual Latin-inspired dinnerware for Vida for España by Eva Mendes.

In other Macy’s news, the latest Kenneth Cole Reaction men’s sportswear line will be available exclusively this fall at stores within the U.S. and its territories.

The men’s collection will include denim, graphic tees and woven shirts—all targeting a young, casual and price-conscious demographic. The sportswear will initially hit 150 Macy’s stores and online at www.macys.com in September. The in-store rollout will see the apparel in Reaction-themed, shop-within-a-shop concepts. A further 550 store launch will follow. The sportswear range builds upon Macy’s current Kenneth Cole Reaction offerings such as footwear, outerwear, tailored clothing, dress shirts and ties, pants, bags and luggage, small leather goods, belts, men’s jewelry, sunglasses and fragrance.

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The limited-edition Abbey Dawn/Wonderland collection includes graphic tees and denim, featuring a combination of Lavigne’s rock and roll vibe and themes from the 3-D film.

Some highlights of the line, which retails from $28 to $54, include:

• T-shirt featuring the saying “At Least We Love Each Other” with spade and fleur-de-lis detailing
• cream pinstriped twill shorts with black suspenders and a pink bow
• hooded jacket with a “Shrink Me” silk screen
• pink printed silk tank dress with exposed zipper

Alice in Wonderland from Disney and Tim Burton hits U.S. theaters on March 5. Also in anticipation of the film, Disney Interactive Studios has rolled out an Alice in Wonderland video game for Wii, Nintendo DS/DSi and Windows PC.

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The Marvel x Airwalk range will feature a special collaborative logo, as well as aesthetics and designs that reflect both board sports and comic book art.

“Airwalk is a mainstay in the board and action sports world,” says Paul Gitter, president of consumer products for North America at Marvel Entertainment. “This collaboration will help expand Marvel’s presence in high-end retail stores and overall in the lifestyle category, and the collection will undoubtedly appeal to the influential and trend-setting youth consumer.”

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The range will include bedding, bath and home spa accessories. The collection will debut at next week’s New York Home Fashions Market.

“London Luxury is a known market leader in the luxury home textiles market,” says Elizabeth Park, executive vice president of global marketing and general manager at Elizabeth Arden U.S. “Their expertise will serve as a perfect complement to our brand’s heritage, as we expand beyond the beauty aisle. We are thrilled to partner with London Luxury and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

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Since its 2008 launch, Little Ewe has become one of the biggest names on Moonpig.com, worth an estimated £500,000 ($750,000) on that site alone, and also appears on greeting cards from Danilo and plush toys and gifts from Posh Paws, as well as featuring in a top-selling mobile download from Sharpcards. Little Ewe has a starring role in Moonpig’s multimillion pound TV ad campaign.

“It underlines Little Ewe’s enormous potential for generating revenue at retail and will send interest in the brand through the roof,” says Rob Corney, Bulldog’s managing director.

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Called “Alice’s” (an anagram of Claire’s), it will stock products designed especially for the film, such as miniature top hats, charm bracelets, striped knee socks and classic Alice bands. There will also be Mad Hatter tea party-inspired earrings and necklaces. Claire’s will also run themed promotions across its 955 European stores and has created a Web site to run alongside the launch.

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