State of the Nation: Brands

Brand together

Inset: TSBA will be expanding the NHM programme globally. Below: The new collection is inspired by the British countryside.

LSB takes a look at some of the latest collaborations, new launches and initiatives in the brands, lifestyle and heritage sector.

Natural History Museum partners with TSBA

TSBA has been appointed by Natural History Museum as its international licensing agent, enabling the Museum to expand its successful programme around the world.

With a wealth of style guide assets for both children and adults, and case studies of successful collaborations in the UK market (including Dunelm and Desmond & Dempsey), interest is already being seen in core categories.

“We are so excited to embark on this journey with TSBA,” commented Maxine Lister, head of licensing at Natural History Museum. “We are delighted to be expanding the programme globally to build relevant collections that will genuinely resonate with today’s consumers.” Ian Mallahue, ceo of TSBA Group, added: “The calibre of partnerships already in place in the UK is a fantastic benchmark for the extension of the licensing programme.”

The Museum will continue to run the UK licensing programme directly.

Graham & Brown adds Joules

Lifestyle brand, Joules has teamed with Graham & Brown on a new collection of 46 wallpaper designs and two statement murals, all inspired by the British countryside.

The designs feature on three main trends – Contemporary Country, Modern Heritage and the coastal Galley Grade range.

The range is also due to be expanded with the introduction of Joules paint in September.

“We are delighted to announce the launch of our new wallpaper collection, created in partnership and with the expertise of Graham & Brown,” said Josie Will, licensing manager at Joules. “We feel this collection beautifully encapsulates the Joules lifestyle, with designs inspired by nature that allow the customer to bring their favourite elements of the great British outdoors into their homes in a way that is both eye-catching and timeless.

“It was incredibly important to us that the range be produced using renewable energy sources and carbon neutral methods, ensuring we’re doing what we can to protect the environment that inspires us.”

Metrostar aids recovery

Suntory Beverage & Food

GB&I – the UK’s third largest soft drinks manufacturer behind Lucozade Energy, Lucozade Sport and Ribena – has appointed Metrostar as its licensing agency to manage brand extensions for its portfolio Above: Metrostar says that of drinks. Lucozade, Lucozade Sport and Ribena are “promising This will mark the first time propositions” for licensing. that the brands have been available for licensing opportunities.

Lucozade Energy is the largest energy drink in the UK drinks sector with sales of over £300m. With a proposition of sustainable energy, Lucozade Energy is seeking partners in food, health and well-being and the lifestyle arenas. Lucozade Sport, meanwhile, is the UK’s number one sports drink brand and defines the sector with over a 75% market share. Its long association with sporting events and athletes offers up opportunities for companies in the active clothing, accessories, health, well-being and fitness spaces.

Finally, Ribena is a leading squash and ready-todrink brand in the UK, generating over £80m+ per annum in sales. Metrostar is investigating food, sensory and lifestyle possibilities for the blackcurrant squash.

“Iconic is an over-used term, but these brands need no introduction and as such are very promising propositions for licensing,” commented Claire Potter, md of Metrostar. “As well as strong functional attributes transferable to products, food and health, they have a wealth of imagery and assets which will work superbly well in lifestyle.”

Humdinger says cheers with Budweiser

In a deal brokered by IMG, multi-category healthy snack company Humdinger has partnered with Budweiser on the launch of three new flavours of coated peanuts. The all-American flavours of the coated peanuts have been crafted to complement the smooth, crisp taste of the beer. They are available at select UK supermarkets, with the price ranging from £1 for a 60g bag to £1.75 for a 150g bag.

Gap teams with De Rigo

IMG has secured a deal between Gap and highend eyewear brand De Rigo to launch the first collection of Gap-branded eyewear.

The line features sun and optical wear for adults, juniors and kids, ranging from classic frames with clean lines to more fashion forward frames in bold colours.

Each pair of Gap-branded glasses comes with a hard-shell case and cleaning cloth or drawstring pouch, made from recycled materials.

Below: The launch marks the first collection of Gap-branded eyewear.

V&A branches out

The V&A is continuing its partnership with People Tree, launching its ninth collaboration with the ethical fashion retailer. The collaboration was born out of a mutual appreciation of high quality materials and a love of print, pattern and colour. The spring/summer 2022 range features delicate floral motifs which are a reproduction of a cotton chintz and inspired by a fragment of block-printed fabric. The collaboration is now in its fifth successful year and the next range Above: A further two beauty pop-ups will open launch is due in the autumn/winter season. later this year in East Asia. The Museum’s beauty business is also continuing to grow in East Asia. Following the success of its existing beauty stores, a further two pop-ups will open later this year in Korea, the Hyundai and Lotte Seoul department stores.

Pink Key driving Quorn programme

Pink Key Licensing has been signed as the exclusive non-food licensing agent for global meat alternative brand, Quorn.

The company will be aiming to pioneer a programme which reflects the brand’s aspiration to develop products with sustainability and environmental values at its core and to drive its ‘better for the planet’ messaging across the market.

“We want to work with licensing partners that uphold Quorn's commitment to a healthy planet,” commented Richard Pink, md of Pink Key Licensing. “First launched to UK consumers in 1985, Quorn closely aligns itself with a pioneering approach to food production, health benefits and sustainability and is now a brand for everyone. Above: Pink Key will be seeking partners which uphold The message of regenerative business and planetary health will be Quorn’s commitment to a healthy planet. fundamental to the non-food licensing strategy. We are looking for partners in multiple categories that can develop products that are built on ethical sourcing, recycled materials and sustainability.”

RHS heads home

RHS is continuing to build up the presence of the brand in the homewares category, with licensees making the most of the design assets to work in the home.

A selection of the artworks can be viewed online at RHSprints.co.uk, where botanical prints are supported by a bespoke framed printing service. Themes of ‘bringing the garden into the home’ and ‘letting the sunshine in’ have made this a particularly successful licence.

The themes and images also support the growing number of RHS partners in the homeware category. These include Sofas & Stuff, which has used RHS botanical art on fabrics across its range of British handmade bespoke sofas, chairs, beds, footstools

and cushions. The fabrics themselves can also be purchased for curtains, blinds or other soft furnishing projects. In addition, the Annie Sloan with RHS Decoupage Papers collection is a new take on a centuries-old approach to household decoration whereby printed images on paper, from the RHS Lindley Collections, are torn or cut out and applied to a range of pieces, from cupboard doors to Above: Annie Sloan, Dexam, Surface View and Sofas furniture and ceramics. & Stuff have all been enjoying success with RHS homewares. Meanwhile, online interiors brand Surface View supplies RHS flora and fauna-themed products ranging from prints and wall hangings to murals, tiles and lampshades. There has also been a recent extension into home décor for children. Dexam has also expanded the brand into the kitchen textiles market. Cathy Snow, licensing manager at RHS, has also hinted that more major homeware licensees will be announced shortly.

Frugi and National Trust unveil collaboration

Children are being encouraged to enjoy ‘Busy Beaver Adventures’ with a new beaver-inspired sustainable and ethical clothing and accessory range from Frugi and National Trust.

Dam-building beavers have been re-introduced by the National Trust at a couple of locations so far, with plans to introduce more widely, to revive lakes and rivers by helping to create new wetland habitats.

Now the creatures are the inspiration for Frugi’s latest collaboration with National Trust with the range including outerwear such as the Play Around Puddle Buster Coat, plus trousers, wellies, a fleece, jumpers, tops, pull ups, a dress and socks. There is also a collection of accessories including a picnic blanket, backpack, wallet, water bottle and lunch bag.

A minimum of £25,000 from sales of the Busy Beaver Adventures collection will be given to the National Trust to support projects such as beaver conservation work at Holnicote Estate in Somerset.

Right: A minimum of £25,000 from sales of the new collection will be given to the National Trust.

Morris & Co shop-in-shop opens in Harrods

Heritage British design brand Morris & Co has opened its first shop-inshop in luxury London department store, Harrods.

The home emporium – which will be in place until at least spring 2023 - showcases the brand’s collection of fabrics, wallpapers, paint and homewares, and aims to celebrate Morris & Co’s history and the legacy of renowned Pre-Raphaelite artist and printmaker, William Morris.

As well as wallpapers, fabrics, paint and cushions, the home emporium will house several of Morris & Co’s homeware ranges – from Path to Paisley jackets created from Morris & Co fabric cut-offs to an exclusive collaboration with lighting masters Pooky.

Above: The opening of the home emporium coincides with a bumper year for Morris & Co.

ARTiSTORY partners with Centre Pompidou

ARTiSTORY continues to expand its growing portfolio of cultural partners, signing global licensing rights for Centre Pompidou, with a first stage of development in Greater China.

The Centre Pompidou is a centre for art and culture where the fine arts interact with live performances, film, music and topical debates. Its iconic building, located in the centre of Paris, is home to the National Museum of Modern Art.

With over 120,000 works of art, the Centre Pompidou is housing Europe’s richest, and one of the world’s largest, collections of 20th and 21st century masterpieces. Henri Matisse, Vassily Kandinsky, Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Frida Kahlo, Piet Mondrian and Marc Chagall join thousands of artists displayed among the galleries.

The Centre Pompidou also develops regional and international actions in the form of exhibitions, loans and sustainable partnerships.

House Beautiful unveils sustainable blinds

The House Beautiful brand has launched a new sustainable blind collection with Hillarys.

The House Beautiful UK x Hillarys Natural Bamboo collection is available in six ontrend shades, selected and curated in collaboration with the House Beautiful style team.

The range offers bespoke customisation, with both brushed and painted finishes available, plus a choice of 15 tape colours and eight metal pulls.

Natural Bamboo blinds are made from fastgrowing bamboo, which serves as a more sustainable option due to the plant’s inherent properties.

“We’ve been collaborating with House Beautiful for almost a decade, and the result is a stylish, practical and value for money collection of blinds and shutters that looks stunning and will perform at your windows for years to come,” commented Chris McKay, head of brand

engagement at Hillarys.

Below: The Centre Pompidou has over 120,000 works of art.

Kurt Geiger boards with TfL

Kurt Geiger London has joined forces with London’s transport network – Transport for London – to launch a new collaborative collection of bags and other accessories over the next 18 months. The collaboration was brokered by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agent. The initial ten-piece collection focuses on some of Kurt Geiger London’s most popular styles, featuring cardholders, a cross body, a structured tote and reworked versions of the bestselling Multi Cross Body and iconic Leather Kensington bags, replacing the brand’s signature rainbow with TfL’s prominent London Underground line colours. Ellen Sankey, TfL’s brand licensing manager, added: “As two brands both born in London, it is great to see Kurt Geiger use our iconic assets in such a creative way. We both share a dedication to high quality design and through this partnership we look forward to seeing people wearing a little piece (or two) of the city wherever they may be.”