NEW YORK-June 1, 2012: Retail sales of licensed merchandise based on fashion labels in the U.S. and Canada were up 6.3% in 2011, totaling $18.04 billion, compared to $16.98 billion in 2010, according to The Licensing Letter, an independent trade publication. Fashion exhibited the strongest growth of any of the five major property types (Art, Entertainment/Character, Fashion, Trademark/Brand, and Sports).

Growth occurred across the sector, among small and large fashion brand houses. Several major multi-label licensors, including Iconix Brand Group (Danskin, Badgley Mischka, Mossimo, and others), Jones Group (Anne Klein, Jones New York, Nine West, and others), and PVH (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger), reported higher sales year-on-year.

Major manufacturers, such as G-III Apparel, licensee of Calvin Klein and other designers, also reported positive sales growth compared to 2010.

All types of fashion designers and labels saw robust growth in 2011:

• Retail sales of apparel labels and apparel designers-by far the largest group of licensors within the fashion sector, commanding an 83.9% share of market-were up 6.1%.
• Home furnishings designers saw sales rise 6.9%, with labels such as Jonathan Adler, Wendy Bellissimo, Chris Madden, and Vern Yip all expanding their activities.
• Footwear designers and labels grew 7.2%. Keds, Jimmy Choo, and Buster Brown were among the properties that added licensees.

Contact: Ira Mayer, Publisher, The Licensing Letter; imayer@epmcom.com; 212-941-1633, ext. 27.

About The Licensing Letter

The Licensing Letter delivers retail sales data, news of deals, contact information, and trend analysis to owners of intellectual property, their agents, retailers, and the manufacturers who market licensed merchandise. The Licensing Letter is published by EPM Communications, Inc. EPM is a member, but independent of, the Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA).