A big, hearty congrats to my friend Brian Atwood! Jones Apparel Group Inc., the fashion conglomerate with stakes in brands like Stuart Weitzman, Robert Rodriguez and Rachel Roy, has signed Atwood to a licensing deal to–get this–where it will manufacture, market and distribute a contemporary brand called B Brian Atwood. Hoping to capitalize on Atwood’s sexy designs coveted by a who’s who of Hollywood A-listers from Victoria Beckham to Cameron Diaz, the line will debut in Fall 2011 with shoes priced from $200 to $500, while bags, jewelry, sunglasses and even sportswear are in development stages.
“We are both partners in this and want to see it grow on a grand scale,” Atwood told WWD. “We don’t ever call it diffusion because it is really a counterpart to the main line. It was something I felt that we needed as part of our brand. We love what we do and if we can give any part of Brian Atwood to a larger audience, that is what really excited me.”
Atwood, the former Bally creative director who was Versace’s chief accessories designer before founding his namesake shoe label in 2001, will be available at better department stores and upscale specialty stores. According to WWD, the collection will focus on a “tight, urban-oriented assortment of shoes with a stronger presence of flats and midheels than is usual for the Brian Atwood line.”
All I can say is: I cannot wait to preview this collection next spring! Stay tuned for updates!
