The Licensing Letter

Health and Beauty Products

Fashion Licensing Pioneer Ruth McCarthy Manton Dies at 95

Ruth McCarthy Manton, a pioneer in the business of fashion licensing, passed away at her home on Christmas Eve. Manton was also among the first female fashion journalists in the industry, but it was her innovative work after founding Aries Design Management that made her a force to be reckoned with in the licensing business. Manton's idea was to link up top designers directly … [Read more...] about Fashion Licensing Pioneer Ruth McCarthy Manton Dies at 95

Dolly Parton Inks Fragrance Deal With Edge Beauty

Country music star Dolly Parton has signed a long-term license deal with Edge Beauty for the creation, development and distribution of the iconic entertainment superstar’s signature fragrance, in a deal brokered by IMG. The fragrances will be inspired by Dolly’s own signature scent, with the first collection set to launch in Spring 2021. “Fragrance has always played a major … [Read more...] about Dolly Parton Inks Fragrance Deal With Edge Beauty

Top Licensed Retail Sales Figures to Have On-hand in the New Year

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com While TLL is crunching the official stats for 2019 over the next month, here are some figures and trends we’re tracking for next year. Please note that all 2019 figures are preliminary estimates and subject to change. Licensed retail sales in Mainland China exceed $10 billion. The greatest area of licensed sales growth in 2020 … [Read more...] about Top Licensed Retail Sales Figures to Have On-hand in the New Year

CBD-infused, Sustainable & Bright: IBS+IECSC Roundup

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com We attended the 17th annual International Beauty Show (IBS) and International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference (IECSC) in New York City this week, and brought back the buzziest trends from the floor. CBD-infused health and beauty aids are beginning to break into the mainstream. What's more, the goods are made right … [Read more...] about CBD-infused, Sustainable & Bright: IBS+IECSC Roundup

Celebrating the Beauty in Diversity

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Kimora Lee Simmons Leissner reclaims Baby Phat, her old streetwear brand created to bring a voice to women of color in fashion, in part because of the influence of daughters Ming Lee (19) and Aoki Lee (16). Having personally purchased the label under undisclosed circumstances, she will relaunch Baby Phat by summer of this … [Read more...] about Celebrating the Beauty in Diversity

Living Coral: 2019 NSS, NY Now & Surtex Edition

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com CORAL, as in: Conscientious, Organized, Retro, and Animated Living. From the floor of the 2019 National Stationery Show (NSS), Retail Renaissance NY Now, and Surtex, TLL brings you the latest in home, stationery, and surface design trends. This year, all three shows were held simultaneously in New York City's Jacob Javits … [Read more...] about Living Coral: 2019 NSS, NY Now & Surtex Edition

Fragrance: Hit Me One More Time

Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Retail sales of licensed fragrance grew 1% in 2017 to reach $3.98 billion in the U.S./Canada, according to TLL's Licensing Business Survey. Britney Spears and Revlon have teamed up to launch Britney Spears Prerogative, a new fragrance inspired by the singer’s career and her 24th in all. The gender-neutral scent features an … [Read more...] about Fragrance: Hit Me One More Time

Fashion Rumble in Eyewear & Fragrance

Both the FTC as well as EU antitrust regulators have closed their respective investigations into a proposed $58.49 billion (€48 billion) merger between eyewear giants Essilor and Luxottica. The EU said that it "coordinated closely" with the FTC on the case, unconditionally approving the merger and stating that the deal would not harm competition. French-based Essilor controls … [Read more...] about Fashion Rumble in Eyewear & Fragrance

HBA Gets Fashionable

Licensed consumer goods based on fashion brands generated $21.45 billion worth of retail sales in the U.S./Canada in 2016—HBA goods accounted for $2.55 billion's worth of that. This year, we can expect to see more competition in the HBA space from home-brewed brands (the types of which would have been obvious picks for licensing in prior years) and new, innovative extensions … [Read more...] about HBA Gets Fashionable