FINDINGS
ROBERTS GETS VAN ELI:
Handbag firm Sondra Roberts has signed its first license, with St. Louis-based Wolf Shoe Co., to produce and market a line of handbags for its Van Eli shoe line. The collection, targeted at department and specialty shoe stores, will make its debut for fall and wholesales from $38 to $60. Materials include leather-trimmed suede with tortoise hardware, croco-printed leather and caviar suede, according to Glenn Roberts, president of Sondra Roberts.
Also hitting stores this fall is SR by Sondra Roberts, the company’s first bridge collection of handbags. Wholesale prices range from roughly $30 to $76, while the firm’s top line goes from $85 to $250. SR by Sondra Roberts features Italian leather and is being produced overseas.
In addition to the Van Eli line, Wolf Shoe also makes shoes under the Sesto Meucci and Rangoni names and runs Marmi, its own chain of 14 footwear stores, which will also carry the Van Eli bag line.
ON THE MOVE:
Fran Harris Design Management, New York, has moved its offices and is broadening its client base and range of services. The company is now at 10 East 39th Street and has expanded from sales representation to acting as an agent for private label development and licensing opportunities.
While it previously worked solely with accessories designers, it has now added outerwear, intimate apparel, sleepwear and sportswear collections for men, women and children, according to owner Fran Harris.
ROWLEY TO SUPPLEMENTS:
Supplements N.Y., a showroom in New York, is now representing Cynthia Rowley’s accessories, which made its debut during the January market.
The line of nonlicensed accessories includes handbags, hats, belts, jewelry, scarves and small home accessories such as picture frames, tableware, pillows and lamps.
Rowley’s various accessories range at wholesale from $14 to $110.
The designer also has licensed lines of footwear, hosiery and eyewear that are available in their respective licensee’s showrooms.