Nanette Lepore partners with Bluestar Alliance

New York-based designer Nanette Lepore is partnering with brand management company, Bluestar Alliance to expand her namesake contemporary label globally.

The joint venture will see Bluestar Alliance, which specialises in licenses, supporting and maintaining Nanette Lepore’s currently licensing that is in place, including swim, home, and L’Amour Nanette Lepore, a juniors label distributed at JC Penney, as well as looking to expand the Nanette Lepore name into new licensing categories and markets, both domestic and international. Categories that are being considered include shoes and bags.

Nanette Lepore and her husband, co-owner and CEO Robert Savage, have taken a minority stake in the new venture, and will continue to own the majority of, and operate, the existing ready-to-wear business.

“With Bluestar’s international expertise, we look forward to expanding the Nanette Lepore brand worldwide,” Lepore explained to WWD.

It is hoped that the new venture will generate greater exposure for the brand and help build Nanette Lepore into a “lifestyle brand”, both domestically and internationally.

Bluestar, founded in 2006 by Joseph Gabbay and Ralph Gindi, owns, manages and markets a portfolio of consumer brands including Catherine Malandrino, Kensie and English Laundry, managing more than 200 licensees who distribute product throughout North America, Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.