L.A.-based luxury lifestyle clothing brand The Elder Statesman has entered into a “long-term partnership to produce luxury apparel and accessories” with the NBA, and the “early fruits” of the deal will arrive at Barneys New York in limited quantities on Friday, according to Lauren Sherman of THE BUSINESS OF FASHION. The line, available in both men’s and women’s sizes, “includes accessories as well as t-shirts and sweaters, ranging from $420 cashmere beanies intarsia-ed with any one of the league’s 30 team logos to $590 printed silk-cashmere t-shirts to $1,620 crew-neck cashmere sweaters.” Designer Greg Chait also has “designed a $1,560 felted cashmere sweater printed with the NBA logo.” Other items will be made available through The Elder Statesman's own “direct-to-consumer channels, which include a physical retail store in West Hollywood and e-commerce.” New products will be “introduced throughout the season,” with links to the holiday season, NBA All-Star Weekend, the Playoffs and Finals. Chait also “met with several NBA-team owners who happen to be private clients and were receptive to the idea” of the line. He said, “I wanted to get a real partnership done, and the NBA was super hip and into the idea. They didn’t come in and put a bunch of restrictions on me” (BUSINESSOFFASHION.com, 10/31).
