California Apparel News

Just one month after acquiring the bankrupt Rock & Republic label, VF Corp. has signed a deal with Kohl’s to become the only store in the United States to carry the once-high-flying brand.

VF Corp. announced on April 28 that it had signed a long-term licensing deal with Kohl’s, a chain of mid-tier department stores based in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

The Rock & Republic label will debut in the chain’s 1,097 stores in spring 2012. Initially, Rock & Republic products will be for men’s and women’s apparel and footwear, but later it may branch out to children’s, accessories and home.

“Bringing the original Rock & Republic brand exclusively to Kohl’s with a compelling new value proposition is a unique and exciting opportunity. VF’s expertise in jeanswear combined with Kohl’s proven ability to develop powerful exclusive brands will be a winning combination that will create new excitement for Kohl’s customers and add yet another growth opportunity to what is already a long and mutually rewarding partnership between Kohl’s and VF Corp.,” said Eric Wiseman, VF’s chairman and chief executive officer.

VF Corp. will manufacture Kohl’s supply of denimwear, and Kohl’s will design and source the rest of the categories out of its New York design office. The new array of Rock & Republic apparel and footwear will be carried in the retailer’s contemporary department.

Los Angeles denim label Rock & Republic was founded in 2002 by Michael Ball. The brand was known for its high-end denim that sold for $150 to $250 as well as cutting-edge contemporary fashions. But financial woes hit the company last year when it couldn’t repay a $15 million loan made by Ritchie Koral, an off-price vendor in Los Angeles. The loan was due on April 2, 2010. Rock & Republic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 1.

VF Corp. bought the Rock & Republic brand in late March for $57 million. This was the first deal for VF’s new Licensed Brands group, formed in July 2009.—Deborah Belgum