the kidcrash
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Yup, pretty much. It could be very well a completely different brand. But, they have the right to use the label.
Another example is The North Face: Purple Label in Japan. Nanamica have the rights to the label and can essentially produce whatever they want.
I've always found the Japanese licensing/mgmt company biz super interesting.
Margaret Howell/MHL in Japan is a proper lifestyle brand with home goods, interior design, cafes, etc. There is some crossover between the British team (Margaret and co.) and TSI Holdings/Anglobal's Japanese team, though. They'll sometimes share campaign imagery or the JP team may publish imagery that the UK team only sends to buyers (i.e. lookbooks). Both regions will get certain collabs as well, like Barbour, Solovair and Mizuno.
Not the MHL x Converse, though, cuz Converse JP is a wholly different entity than Nike-owned Converse, similar to The North Face. Goldwin operates TNF in Japan (including Purple Label), but Eiichiro Homma from Nanamica directs Purple Label and their brands interface a bit.
Interestingly, there is a little direct communication between American The North Face (owned by VF Corp) and Goldwin's TNF, they'll share tech, designs, etc. and occasionally overlap on drops (like Supreme, Urban Exploration).
A little off topic but fascinating (at least for me). Japan's licensing/management structure affects a lot international brands.
Anyways, saw some of the new season women's stuff recently and it's as good as ever. looking forward to seeing what menswear turns up
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