Pop singer Jessica Simpson has reportedly signed a $10 million licensing deal with apparel manufacturer Andrew Sports Club (New York) to develop her own tweens fashion line.
Sports Club ceo Andrew Kirpalani said his company would develop a line of kids’ clothing, dresses, hats, watches, jewelry and underwear under Simpson’s JS Brand Marketing, to be sold under the Jessica Simpson and Sweet Kisses brand names. The line is targeted for Federated stores, Sears and JCPenney in time for the 2005 back-to-school shopping season.
Both Simpson and her mother are said to be getting involved with designing for the line, which will feature casual clothes with undertones of the singer’s preferred styles, according to Kirpalani, who flew to California to meet with the Simpson family. “Jessica loved our knit tops and the way we use beading and rhinestones,” he told the New York Daily News. “She’s crazy about long ponchos. And especially jeans.”
Kirpalani said his company was also in negotiations with Reebok to develop a line of Jessica Simpson shoes.
Simpson already has her own line of “edible” beauty products, dubbed Dessert, which includes Deliciously Kissable Body Shake and Deliciously Kissable Sugar Scrub in flavors such as caramel and sweet butter. However, last month, manufacturer Cosmojet Inc. (Los Angeles) sued Simpson, Dessert Beauty and cosmetics retailer Sephora, claiming that it produced nearly $1 million worth of products but was paid for only about $800,000.
Simpson released a statement through her publicist denying any knowledge of the matter and vowing to take legal action in return. “Jessica Simpson is a spokesperson for Dessert products and has no involvement in the day-to-day operation of the company’s business,” the statement read. “Ms. Simpson has no knowledge whether Cosmojet’s claim has any basis, nor does she have any responsibility for the company’s accounting and billing procedures or payment obligations.”