The North West Effect: Riccardo Tisci Delivers Givenchy Collection for Babies, Kids
PARIS — North West and Blue Ivy were just a warm-up.
Expanding his fashion universe into a new demographic, Riccardo Tisci is to introduce Givenchy kid’s wear for fall 2017 retailing, WWD has learned.
The collection is being produced and distributed under license by French firm CWF, an acronym for Children Worldwide Fashion, with Tisci and a dedicated studio in complete control of design.
The label will read Givenchy Paris, the words framed by black stars.
Retailers began placing orders this week, with Givenchy pursuing an initial distribution of about 100 to 150 premium retailers in Europe, the Middle East, the U.S. and Asia. First deliveries are expected in July 2017.
The collection includes items for babies and infants from one month to three years old, and items for boys and girls ages four to 12.
Tisci — who has expressed a will to create a lifestyle brand with Givenchy, building from its couture sophistication and edgy, urban expression — has already dabbled in children’s wear by creating bespoke looks for such famous friends as Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé.
Kardashian unleashed pandemonium in September 2014 when she attended Givenchy’s spring 2015 show in a black lace dress that matched her daughter’s — North West — Tisci-designed top.
The tot got her first taste of Givenchy, a label her father Kanye West also prizes, shortly after birth when Tisci dispatched a miniature version of one of his famous graphic T-shirts. Kardashian got 302,000 likes when she tweeted a photo of the item, exclaiming: “OMG Baby Bambi custom shirt for North! Thank you Riccardo!”
In 2013, Tisci created matching couture gowns for Beyoncé and her daughter, Blue Ivy, for a Vogue photo shoot.
According to Givenchy, Tisci is to produce two collections of the brand’s children’s wear a year, each with about 60 pieces for girls, 40 for boys and 30 for babies, along with special items like black teddy bears.
Retail prices are to range from 90 euros to 100 euros, or $96.30 to $107, for T-shirts; 110 euros to 150 euros, or $117.70 to $160.50, for shirts and blouses; 150 euros and up for dresses; 130 euros, or $139.10, and up for pants; 200 euros, or $214, and up for jackets, and 300 euros, or $321, and up for coats. Baby items are to start at about 80 euros, or $85.60, for T-shirts while dresses and pajamas will be priced from about 140 euros, or $149.80.
Tisci is also planning a “couture capsule” for girls, reprising iconic Givenchy couture dresses in smaller sizes.
Based in Paris, CWF bills itself as having the largest design studio dedicated to kids’ fashions in Europe, and more than 50 years of experience in manufacturing and distributing collections.
The company ships more than six million items a year to some 2,300 shops in 74 countries, including 280 department stores. Annual revenues total about 160 million euros, or $170 million at current exchange rates, according to the company’s web site.
Licenses in CWF’s stable include Chloé, DKNY, Boss, Little Marc Jacobs and Timberland alongside its in-house brands Billieblush, Billybandit and Carrément Beau.
CWF recently added the Karl Lagerfeld license — and Balmain shipped its first kid’s sizes last June — signaling a burgeoning market for designer children’s wear.
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