Badgely Mischka license agreement with Groupe JS

The US luxury eveningwear brand Badgley Mischka has announced a license agreement with Groupe JS International to introduce a bridge apparel collection. The new collection is planned for spring 2006 and is aimed at a broader customer base. It will consist of evening gowns, cocktail dresses and separates priced between $ 500 and $ 1,500 (GBP 274 and GBP 822).

Badgley Mischka is a division of licensing concern, Candie’s Inc. In a statement, Candie’s CEO, Neil Cole, said: “We think there is a tremendous opportunity to bring red carpet luxury and glamour to a broader audience of women. This collection will raise the bar for luxury and glamour at more accessible price points. The new showroom at 550 Seventh Avenue is exciting as it will unveil a new look and feel for the Badgley Mischka brand.”

President and CEO of Groupe JS International, Mitchell Hops, said: “Mark and James have dressed the most glamorous women in the world for over fifteen years and have become celebrities themselves. Their name has become synonymous with luxury and glamour to millions of women who have seen their gowns in the pages of fashion magazines and on television. This collection will bring their signature sense of elegance to a broader audience where we anticipate it will be enthusiastically embraced.”

Fran Ornstein has been appointed vice president of Sales and Merchandising for the new division. Don O’Neill – who joins Groupe JS from Carmen Marc Volvo where he worked for 10 years – will work together with Mark Badgley and James Mischka as Design Director for the new collection.

Badgley and Mischka stated: “Adding the bridge collection serves two purposes. We are making the Couture collection more special, creating couture-level clothes that are available through specialized and exclusive ready-to-wear stores, which we began with the Fall 2005 season. The bridge collection lets us make Badgley Mischka’s elegance and glamour available to a broader untapped market. JS Groupe has assembled an outstanding team that has passionately embraced this initiative and shares our vision.”