Alyssa Milano and G-III Apparel Group (NASD-GIII) have entered into agreements with the National Hockey League (NHL), National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) to design and distribute the TOUCH – by Alyssa Milano brand.
TOUCH – by Alyssa Milano is a unique, licensed women’s fashion apparel brand designed for the female sports fan. Launched last year with Major League Baseball (MLB), this high-end brand blends fashion and function and is a great addition to existing women’s sports licensed apparel offerings. The TOUCH brand empowers the fiercely loyal female sports fans to look and feel their best. Whether cheering on their favorite teams or simply living life, TOUCH provides a platform for female sports fans to rally around.
The missy contemporary targeted collections will consist of outerwear, sets, fashion tops, denim, and dresses, as well as other key items. The apparel will be designed utilizing high quality fabrics and body contouring silhouettes. Milano explains, “I received so many requests to expand distribution of the brand into additional sports leagues and I’m thrilled we are now able to satisfy the demand. Female fans are loyal, passionate, stylish and feminine. It's these core principles that are behind my design philosophy. I am very excited to bring TOUCH apparel to female sports fans everywhere."
Milano has spent almost her entire life in the public eye. She has starred in a number of long running successful television series. She most recently starred on the hit WB series “Charmed” for eight years, the longest running show in the history of TV with female leads. She also starred on the Fox cornerstone series “Melrose Place,” and began her television career on ABC’s “Who’s the Boss” which ran on ABC for eight years and continues to appear in syndication. Her film credits include “Hugo Pool” co-starring Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr., the Imagine/Universal film, “Fear,” and “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.” She will next be seen in the thriller, “Pathology,” opposite Milo Ventimiglia and as the title character in the Lifetime Original movie, “Wisegal,” (which she also produced). Milano can currently be seen in a recurring role on the hit NBC comedy, “My Name is Earl.”
In 2003, Alyssa was invited by UNICEF to become a National Ambassador. Since that time, she has traveled with the organization to Angola, Africa (May 2004) to see firsthand the issues plaguing the newly liberated country and India(June 2005). She is currently working with UNICEF to educate American youth to the issues crucial to India’s evolution.
She also serves as the Founding Ambassador for the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Disease Control (GNNTDC), an alliance of international partnerships based at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington D.C. GNNTDC was formalized by the Clinton Global Initiative to lead global effort to treat, control and eliminate neglected tropical disease (NTDs) in the world’s poorest countries. In this role, Milano will work to raise awareness of GNNTDC and NTDs among the mainstream media and with the general public.
Through her stardom in television and cinema, as well as her worldwide ambassador status as a humanitarian, Milano has a very strong fan base. She has a unique, broad based appeal to women aged 10-40. Carl Banks, President of Sports Licensing for G-III says, “Her personality and love for sports, combined with her fashion sense, will pave the way for success at boutiques, specialty stores and high-end department stores, leading sporting good chains and stadium shops.”
Mr. Banks added, “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Ms. Milano. I strongly believe that the TOUCH – by Alyssa Milano collections will bring new excitement to the licensed women’s fashion category. Ms. Milano is a quality person with a very compassionate and giving heart toward humanity around the world. I have no doubt that these qualities will transcend all boundaries and the consumer will experience the Milano "touch" in each garment made.”
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of outerwear and sportswear under licensed labels, private labels and their own labels. The Company has fashion licenses, among others, under the Calvin Klein, Sean John, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Guess?, Jones New York, Nine West, Ellen Tracy, IZOD, Tommy Hilfiger and Pacific Trail labels, and sports licenses with the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Louisville Slugger, World Poker Tour and more than 100 U.S. colleges and universities. G-III works with leading retailers in developing product lines to be sold under their own proprietary private labels. Company-owned labels include, among others, Marvin Richards, G-III, Black Rivet, Siena Studio, Colebrook, G-III by Carl Banks, Winlit, NY 10018 and La Nouvelle Renaissance.
Creative Artists Agency, who represents Ms. Milano, facilitated her introduction to G - III Apparel Group.
