Close WindowBill Blass Announces Licensing Deal with Mondani Corporation For Handbags and Small Leather Goods
October 4, 2007 (NEW YORK) – Bill Blass Ltd., LLC, a division of NexCen Brands, Inc. (NYSE: NEXC), has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Mondani Corporation. This agreement will give Mondani Corporation the license to manufacture and distribute handbags, small leather goods and cosmetic and toiletry cases for Bill Blass and Bill Blass Collection. The collection will debut at retail in fall 2008 and will have the same retail distribution as Bill Blass including better boutique stores. The line will consist of a variety of handbags and small leather goods inspired by the ready-to-wear collection’s seasonal themes and silhouettes.
Robert D’Loren, president and chief executive officer, NexCen Brands, Inc. said, “We view our partnership with Mondani as pivotal to the extension of the brand as we continue to build on our lifestyle categories. We have an aggressive plan for Bill Blass that blends very well with the way that Mondani does business.”
Steven Hedaya, president of Mondani, said, "The Bill Blass tradition of innovative design and enduring elegance is inspiring us to create a wonderful new collection of handbags that appeal to fashionable women who appreciate exceptional quality and timeless appeal.” Mondani currently markets handbags and leather goods under the Mondani brand and carries the license for Hype, Rampage, London Fog and Emilie M. Marco Querci has been appointed design director for the Bill Blass collection and Cathy Schwartz-Shino has been appointed vice president, director of sales. The new fall collection will retail at prices from $295 to $795 and couture pieces starting at just under $1000.
Bill Blass epitomizes Timeless Style and Modern American design. Founded by William Ralph Blass in the 1970's, Bill Blass from its inception offered women modern, sophisticated, tailored clothing. The company's reputation was built on elegant designs executed in the finest fabrics. The company remains true to its design heritage by favoring the always fashionable over the fleetingly trendy, acquiring a dedicated following of the world's most stylish women and making Bill Blass an internationally recognized brand.NexCen Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXC) is the premier 21st century brand acquisition and management company focused on assembling a diversified portfolio of intellectual property centric companies operating in the consumer branded products and franchise industries. The
Company owns, licenses, franchises and markets a growing portfolio of consumer and franchise brands including The Athlete's Foot(R), Bill Blass(R), MaggieMoo's(R), Marble Slab Creamery(R), Pretzel Time(R), Pretzelmaker(R) and Waverly(R). The Company licenses and franchises its brands to a network of leading retailers, manufacturers and franchisees that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in the U.S. and in over 50 countries around the world, and consists of more than 1,500 franchised stores. NexCen, through its information technology and franchisee support systems and advertising, marketing and public relations team, markets its brands to continually drive greater consumer awareness and brand equity for each of its brands. NexCen touches nearly every aspect of a consumer's lifestyle from the food they eat to the furnishings in their homes and the clothes and footwear they purchase.
For more information, please visit www.nexcenbrands.com
For further information please contact:
Caitlin DiStefano
Paul Wilmot Communications
212-206-7447 x 54
cdistefano@greatpress.com