Quicksilver to Launch Women's Line
Quiksilver to Launch Women's Line
Quiksilver Inc. is developing a women's line under the Quiksilver brand that will be targeted to the 18- to 24-yearold women's market.
Offering a year-round range of clothing, the new line is scheduled to debut at retail in fall 2008 and will be unveiled to buyers in January. The line will be sold in Quiksilver's own retail stores as well as at specialty stores, better department stores and select surf shops in the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
"We are positioning the line at the better-best end of the juniors spectrum," said Robert B. McKnight Jr., chairman and CEO of Quiksilver Inc. "We are confident that this will open new points of distribution and bring incremental business to the company while augmenting, rather than competing with existing businesses."
Bernard Mariette, president of Quiksilver, noted: "The product will be linked to the Quiksilver young men's brand, but the overall feel will be very feminine, with an end result that is casual but chic."
Quiksilver tapped fashion industry veteran Summer Rapp as vice president of design for the women's line. "This project is really exciting, and will ultimately be a huge success, because we will combine the Quiksilver brand's incredible clout with the freedom of being a new business and a new player in the marketplace," she said. "I am privileged to be a part of an all-new team with both action sports and fashion industry experience."
>> for more information: www.quiksilver.com
Loeb & Loeb Starts Fashion/Luxury Group
Loeb & Loeb LLP, a law firm with offices in Los Angeles, New York and other cities, has established a Fashion and Luxury Brand Industry Group.
The firm is responding to industry research that indicates luxury brands and apparel are robust with M&A activity and IP litigation in trademark and copyright issues. Loeb & Loeb's new group will offer services for dealing with these issues, as well as patent matters.
The firm's client roster includes brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, True Religion, 7 For All Mankind, Yurman Designs Inc., Vans, TRUNK Ltd. and Planet Blue.
"The formation of this group reflects the industry's tremendous growth and our commitment to the future success of our existing clients," says James Williams, chair of the Fashion and Luxury Brand Industry Group. "Our industry relationships and experience position us to deliver solutions swiftly and cost-effectively, whether those solutions relate to brand management, financing transactions or intellectual property enforcement."
>> for more information: www.loeb.com
NAUMD Opens Membership to North America
The National Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors (NAUMD) has expanded its membership to include uniform and accessories dealers, distributors and manufacturers based anywhere in North America.
Earlier this year the NAUMD asked its members to vote on the issue of expansion. More than 87 percent of its members voted to welcome members from throughout North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. provinces.
"We believe expansion of our membership to North America to be one of the most positive moves our organization can make in building value and meaning to our entire organization," said Ron Pate, NAUMD chairman and vice president of Unison Marketing Group. "We live and work in a global economy."
He noted that uniform industry leaders in Canada and Mexico had long been seeking membership in the NAUMD.
Companies interested in joining can download membership applications via the NAUMD's web site (listed below).
>> for more information: www.naumd.com
A4 Offers Organic Line
The sportswear company A4 has joined the ranks of apparel brands and retailers that are investing in sustainability strategies for the production of their garments.
The Los Angeles-based firm has launched the Kristiina By A4 eco-friendly line of sustainable activewear. The line, named after designer Kristiina Ratia, features styles made of certified organic cotton.
"Green living has become a way of life for many people," says Mark Mertens, CEO of A4. "We are proud to create a clothing collection that will merge fashion with positive steps toward addressing global concerns, and hope that eventually others will be encouraged to follow in our footsteps."
>> for more information: www.a4.com
Speer Named Editor in Chief of Apparel
Jordan K. Speer has been promoted to editor in chief of Apparel Magazine.
Speer joined Apparel in 1996 and has served as senior editor of the publication since 2001.
In her 12-year tenure with Apparel, Speer has been instrumental in building the magazine's coverage of retail, product development, color management, global sourcing and sustainability, among other core focus areas. Since joining the company, she has provided editorial leadership not only for the magazine but for the production of the publication's many guides and directories as well. She also has been a moderator and speaker at numerous Apparel events and at other industry conferences and trade shows.
Speer will report to Susan Black, Apparel's publisher.
"I am very pleased to have Jordan assume this role," said Black. "She is highly regarded by our readership for her in-depth industry knowledge and her skillful reporting and writing. Jordan also has a keen sense as to what kind of information provides the most value to our audience, and she is dedicated to delivering quality content throughout all of our media products and events."
"As Apparel nears its 50th anniversary, we couldnt be more pleased to have someone of Jordan's caliber leading our direction and strategy for editorial content," Black concluded.
A native of the Washington, DC, area, Speer graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in English and French and also holds a master's degree in English from the University of South Carolina. Her prior experience includes work as a research assistant at a Washington, DC-based economic consulting group.
Apparel magazine, based in Columbia, SC, is the industry's leading B2B provider of credible, actionable information on technology and business. More than 18,000 executives representing the world's most successful apparel brands, retailers and manufacturers rely on Apparel for its core coverage of retail intelligence, supply chain, sourcing and logistics, concept-to-spec and fiber-to-fabric. An Edgell Communications publication, Apparel also produces the Apparel Sourcing Summit, the Apparel Executive Forum, the Apparel Tech Conference and numerous Web Seminars on a variety of technology and other topical issues.
>> for more information: www.apparelmag.com
prAna to Open Retail Store
prAna, the active lifestyle apparel manufacturer, is opening its first retail stores in Boulder, CO, and Santa Clara, CA, this year.
"We envision our stores becoming true destinations where members of the local community can experience and connect with our brand," said Beaver Theodosakis, president and founder of prAna. "Our goal is to create visually dynamic spaces that provide customers with an educational and interactive retail environment."
In partnership with San Francisco-based Gensler, a leader in sustainable environmental design strategies, prAna has developed a store concept prototype that will share the brand story, engage consumers and demonstrate the company's commitment to innovation and sustainability.
>> for more information: www.prana.com
CAREERMOVES
- Gordon Cooke has joined Boston Proper's Board of Directors. The former J. Jill chairman and CEO has more than 30 year of retail experience, including 17 years at Bloomingdale's.
- Japanese luxury brand Evisu has promoted Helen Soderberg from vice president of operations to executive director, United States. Prior to joining the company in January of this year, Soderberg was director of operations at Miss Sixty USA. Also, Evisu has promoted Adam Schmidt from senior account executive to national sales manager. Evisu will soon open its U.S. flagship store in SoHo.
- Kellwood Co. has named Wendy Chivian president of Calvin Klein women's sportswear, responsible for leadership and oversight for the Calvin Klein women's better sportswear and ck Calvin Klein women's bridge sportswear businesses. She most recently was senior vice president and general manager of Badgley Mischka sportswear.
- MAGIC International has hired Chris Griffin as national sales manager. He most recently was president of Chica Inc., a division of Jem Sportswear.
- Sandra Campos has been named president of O Oscar, an Oscar de la Renta Company. Most recently, Campos was president of designer packaging company Mobi Inc., which she co-founded. She also has served in key senior vice president posts with Polo Ralph Lauren, Nautica, and Polo.
O Oscar, launched exclusively at Macy's in February, is a line of better women's sportswear designed and marketed under a licensing agreement between Oscar de la Renta Ltd. and Kellwood Co. - Talbots has appointed Philip Kowalczyk as COO. He was previously president of the company's J. Jill Group Inc. Kowalczyk joined Talbots in 2004 as executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and previously was managing director of Kurt Salmon Associates.
- The Wet Seal Inc. has hired Edmond Thomas as president and CEO. He most recently was president and co-CEO of Tilly's Inc.