The management team of ethical fashion brand Howies has bought
the business back from VF Corporation, the owner of the North
Face, Wrangler and Eastpak brands, for an undisclosed sum. Howies
was sold to US-based Timberland in 2006, which was acquired by VF
last year in a deal worth $2 billion. “Bringing small again
means all the decision making is now back in-house” a
Howies spokesman told Direct Commerce. “We hope
this will allow us to get working more quickly on ideas and
products that we feel are best for the brand.” Among the
first on Howies refocused to-do list is expanding into new
markets. It announced back in
September that it plans to launch local-language websites for
its French and German customers.
Another eco-friendly brand has a new home. Spark Etail, a contact
centre and fulfilment firm that also owns Ethical Superstore,
Natural Collection and Spirit of Nature, acquired ethical fashion
label Frank & Faith in January. Frank & Faith was launched in
2006 by Anya Pearson and Mark Swire (formerly a financial
director at ethical fashion retailer Adili). Spark Etail plans to
continue supporting Frank & Faith’s “made in Britain”
ethos through introducing new designers and adding more stock. It
will also redevelop the brand’s website.
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