Athleta Collaborating with Derek Lam
The Gap-owned athletic wear company Athleta has scored its first designer collaboration with Derek Lam 10 Crosby. Lam is partnering with the brand for three seasons, starting with a collection debuting in September. The line will be available in Athleta stores and Lam’s 10 Crosby store in New York. “It’s exciting to have a designer collaboration when it’s the right one. We don’t believe we have to have one every season, but if the right opportunity to partner comes up, it’s great. It complements our collection and gives a wider variety to our customer,” said Nancy Green, president of Athleta, in a statement. Prices will be slightly higher than current Athleta offerings.
Kate Spade Saturday & Jack Spade Stores Closing
Kate Spade has announced plans to shutter its Kate Spade Saturday and Jack Spade stores. The company will focus on its flagship Kate Spade New York brand, instead of its lower-priced brand and men’s line. Kate Spade is also focusing on its growth in Asia, specifically in China, with the ultimate goal of transforming into a global lifestyle brand. The 19 Kate Spade Saturday stores and 12 Jack Spade locations are closing in the first half of 2015. To accelerate Chinese growth, the brand has formed a 50-50 joint venture with Chinese retailer Lane Crawford and will buy a 60 percent stake in E-Land Fashion China Holdings Ltd. The brand has set a goal of quadrupling annual sales to $4 billion.
Tommy Hilfiger’s Working on a Memoir
Designer and fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger is working on his memoir. He has inked a deal with Ballantine Books for a book set to debut this fall. The beloved designer will write about “the setbacks, triumphs, and sheer determination” that contributed to his rise from a tiny denim shop in Elmira, New York to international fame. Hilfiger previously worked on “New England Style” and “Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride Through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture.” The memoir doesn’t have a name yet, but it’s bound to be very intriguing.
– Claire Mykrantz
Sources: WWD, WSJ, Page Six
Image: WWD
