Nautica Broadens Welspun Partnership

By James Mammarella -- Home Textiles Today, 2/9/2009 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Welspun USA takes on a full roster of Nautica Home categories in a new licensing agreement that adds fashion bedding, bath accessories, window treatments and indoor area rugs to its existing sheet, bath rug, bath and beach towel rights.

Welspun USA, part of the $2 billion India-based Welspun, will ship these for spring 2009 deliveries to U.S. and Canadian department and home specialty stores.

Welspun Mexico is already preparing spring 2009 deliveries of the Nautica Home collection.

“The partnership between Welspun and Nautica has proven to be an excellent match for both ... this new collaboration will further enhance our well established bedding and bath businesses,” said Maria Vicari, president of global licensing, Nautica Apparel Inc., a unit of VF Corp.

Charles Gaenslen, evp and coo, Welspun USA, said of Nautica: “The brand is timeless and provides us with a valuable opportunity to continue to grow and create a mutually successful business.”

Welspun USA is No. 4 on the HTT Top 15 Supplier Giants list, with estimated 2008 sales of $401 million. It first became a Nautica licensee in April 2003, for towels and independent sheets.

The other current Nautica Home licensees are: Berkshire Blanket, blankets and throws; Crown Crafts, infant and juvenile bedding; Lexington, indoor furniture; Louisville Bedding, basic bedding; Lifetime Brands, tabletop; Robert Allen, decorative fabric; and Vendor Development Group, outdoor furniture.