Bombay name to live on through Otto licensing deal

-- Home Textiles Today, 12/10/2008 1:16:00 PM

New York – Otto International has signed for the exclusive rights to the Bombay brand name.

The sourcing and trading company is a division of Otto Group, which owns Crate & Barrel and 122 other companies.

The licensor, Bombay Brands LLC, acquired the intellectual property remnant of defunct Bombay Company U.S. retail operation 11 months ago. It is a joint venture deal between Hilco Consumer Capital (Toronto) and Gordon Brothers. Bombay Company’s Canadian retail operation was acquired last year by Bowring, Benix and Company.

“Partnering with Otto International illustrates Bombay’s ongoing commitment to engage world class marketers that have the expertise to execute our vision of innovation and growth,” said John Collins, president of Bombay Brands.

Otto will relaunch Bombay next year in a variety of product categories, including lifestyle, furniture, home accessories and décor and fashion accessories. The brand stands for “classic taste with an exotic soul, British Colonial style updated for modern living,” according to a joint release by the companies.

Otto has not yet determined in what channels the products will be distributed, a spokeswoman told HTT.