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Internationally known for her colourful, exuberant designs, Betsey Johnson is one of New York’s most celebrated fashion designers with a career spanning 30 years |
NETHERLANDS. US fashion designer Betsey Johnson has turned to Dutch fragrance and accessories specialist Colorful Licenses to produce and distribute her new signature fragrance.
Internationally known for her colourful, exuberant designs, Betsey Johnson is one of New York’s most celebrated fashion designers with a career spanning 30 years.
The fragrance – details are being kept closely under wraps – will be officially unveiled in May 2006 in New York and is scheduled to be on-shelf worldwide in September.
This latest licensing deal represents the second fashion brand for Colorful Licenses, which has been producing and distributing fragrances, cosmetics and accessories for Dutch fashion house Oilily for 15 years.
Commenting on latest deal, Colorful Licenses President Cees Homburg said: “We are so proud and excited to be working with Betsey. She is one of the world’s most inspiring designers and her flair for colour and design will make our job on the fragrance side so creative and fun. We are looking forward to developing a fragrance that reflects this exceptional designer’s character and passion for fashion.”
Commenting on the potential for duty free sales, Homburg was keen to point out that Betsey’s appeal is truly global. “As well as being one of New York’s most desired designers, Betsey is known the world over. She has over 45 stores worldwide, a huge following in Japan, and has recently opened a franchise store in Dubai. With this high level of international recognition a signature fragrance is an obvious addition to the brand. The window opportunity offered in duty free is the perfect environment for such a fragrance and we look forward to introducing it to the channel this year.”
The agreement also marks the start of a new era for Colorful Licenses. The Dutch company is also in talks with other fashion companies about licensing opportunities for both fragrance and accessories.
Homburg explained: “We have gained a lot of experience over the past 15 years working with Oilily. We are known and respected for our high quality production in both fragrances and accessories and we understand the needs of the fashion market. Colorful Licenses can add something unique to the licensing market and we are now in talks with other fashion companies about licensing potential. So I believe this could be the first announcement of several more in the coming years.”
About Betsey JohnsonIn 1978, Betsey Johnson formed a partnership with Chantal Bacon to start the Betsey Johnson label. The same year Betsey and Chantal launched their first retail store in the heart of New York’s Soho. In the early 1980s, the duo were one of the first to open a store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, helping the street to gain its worldwide recognition as one of the best shopping areas.
Today there are over 45 Betsey Johnson stores worldwide. International expansion came in 1998 with the opening of the London store and in 1999 the Vancouver store opened its doors. Toronto opened in early September 2003 and Honolulu, Hawaii debuted in September 2004 in the luxury mall of Ala Moana. Betsey Johnson clothing is also available in upmarket department stores as well as in over 1,000 selected stores throughout the US, Europe and Japan. In 2005, Betsey opened her first franchise store in Dubai.
In 2003 several licensing deals were struck, taking Betsey’s signature prints to new audiences with categories including shoes, legwear, lingerie and jeans. She continued this trend in 2004, adding handbags, belts and accessories including hats, scarves, wraps and ponchos. In 2002, Betsey was honoured with an induction into the Fashion Walk of Fame, honouring her contribution to American fashion. A bronze and granite plaque containing an original sketch, signature and biography was embedded into Seventh Avenue sidewalk in early 2003.
*Colorful Licenses will be exhibiting at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas in Fort Lauderdale next month.
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