Authentic has named United Legwear & Apparel Co. (ULAC), BCI Brands and Peerless Clothing as its three foundational licensing partners in the US and Canada amid Ted Baker's insolvency in the UK and Europe.
Authentic global president of sports and lifestyle Jarrod Weber explained: “Establishing a new and vibrant core business in the US and Canada is an essential building block for the revitalisation of this brand."
He added the strategic partnerships will reinforce Ted Baker’s presence, bolster its credibility and forge enduring connections with premier retailers across the US and Canada.
ULAC will design and manufacture the Ted Baker branded men’s sportswear, golf and denim categories and be responsible for all wholesale and concession shops, as well as operating Tedbaker.us and Tedbaker.ca for the US and Canada.
ULAC chief operating and financial officer Christopher Volpe said his company looks forward to bringing its deep understanding of the men's sportswear market as well as its commitment to product innovation to fuel the brand's growth and success.
Authentic's long-term agreement with Peerless will see the company design and manufacture Ted Baker’s tailored clothing, dress shirts and outerwear for the US and Canada.
Weber explained: “Peerless has a remarkable ability to develop tailored clothing in the right fit and price point for every brand they become associated with. They continue to demonstrate their end-to-end solution capabilities to the market through our existing partnerships across Authentic’s brands, including Vince, Hart Schaffner Marx, Hickey Freeman, Van Heusen and Izod, among others, and we look forward to welcoming them to Ted Baker.”
BCI Brands will be the brand’s strategic design and development partner for women’s sportswear, dresses and denim in the US and Canada.
Weber added: “We are particularly enthusiastic about the future of Ted Baker womenswear, and are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with BCI Brands on this endeavour. We work closely with BCI’s brilliant team on Vince Camuto and are confident that this partnership will mark a new milestone for Ted Baker in womenswear and drive growth for the brand.”
Authentic said Ted Baker’s new cohort of licensing partners together with Authentic will help to expand the brand’s presence across the US and Canada, cement its bold identity and foster strong connections with key retailers and consumers.
Authentic remains committed to collaborating closely with its revitalised partner network to propel the brand to new heights, drive sustainable growth and captivate an expanding global audience.
Authentic declined to comment on what the new licensing partners in the US and Canada could mean for the insolvent brand across the UK and Europe.
However, Just Style believes Authentic is actively engaged in discussions with potential partners to ensure the continuation of the brand's retail distribution and ecommerce operations in the UK and Europe.
This followed a series of financial difficulties for the brand that saw Teneo Financial Advisory Limited being appointed as the administrator of NODL, which licensed the Ted Baker brand from Authentic Brands Group in the UK and Ireland.
