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Cindy Crawford launches a new health and wellness lifestyle brand, Ladder, with the help of founding partners LeBron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Lindsey Vonn. Ladder aims to engage its users of all types with content like personalized regimens and workout videos, community, and product via direct-to-consumer subscriptions ($60–90 monthly). The group has already developed a greens supplement, two variations of protein powder (whey and plant), and an energy supplement.
Mr. Bean is releasing new Christmas merchandise with YouTube and Teespring’s Merch Shelf feature. The British character’s channel counts over 10 million subscribers, who will now be able to click and buy mugs, hoodies, t-shirts, cushions, and two phone cases.
Jane Fonda partners with Evine Live, a multiplatform interactive video and digital commerce company, to develop a lifestyle brand for women over 50. The actress, author, and fitness expert is planning to tap the popularity and experience of the Jane Fonda Workout series, created in the ’80s, which has sold more than 17 million copies. The new venture encompasses activewear, athleisure options, health and nutrition products, and fitness equipment. It will launch in Spring 2019.
Comedian and actress Amy Schumer and stylist and designer Leesa Evans get together to create Le Cloud, a line of ready-to-wear clothing, at Saks Off 5th. The line includes ready-to-wear separates including tops, pants, skirts, jumpsuits, and outerwear made out of French terry, satin, scuba, and more with sizes ranging from 0-20.
Tory Burch is buying back Tresalia Capital’s 20% minority stake in her business, nearly 10 years after it was sold. Investors General Atlantic and BDT Capital Partners maintain a stake in the business, which they acquired in 2013, reportedly from Burch’s ex-husband. Other fashion brands ranging from Stella McCartney to Proenza Schouler have also recently bought back shares.
Two luxury menswear brands have emerged victorious from years-long trademark disputes with copycat Chinese brands. Italian fashion house Ermenegildo Zegna closed a five-year case centered on a Chinese menswear brand that used the trademark “Yves Zegnoa.” Separately, Alfred Dunhill scored a win against Chinese menswear group Danhuoli, which used a similar elongated logo to that of the British luxury brand, yielding 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) in damages. Last year, footwear manufacturer New Balance was also awarded 10 million yuan for a trademark dispute; at the time, it the largest amount that a foreign brand had been awarded in a Chinese intellectual property case.
After Authentic Brands Group and DSW acquired the Camuto Group for $375 million, the Sequential Brands Group clarifies that its Jessica Simpson footwear license is still intact. To that end, Sequential has signed a long-term licensing partnership renewal under which a newly formed, DSW-owned company will continue to oversee Simpson’s footwear business.