Catherine Malandrino Has a Diffusion Line Too

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Catherine Malandrino debuted Catherine Catherine Malandrino, the designer's lower priced line, at the WWD Magic trade show in Las Vegas this week. Last year Elie Tahari and Arthur S. Levine bought her label, and the three have been working closely to build up her brand. First stop, this diffusion line. Next stop, the world. Literally. Tahari explained that "The goal is to build a global brand and this is one step in that process. The world consists on many levels, with many products and many categories. [...] For global expansion, we knew that we needed this category that is being launched now."

They're also looking to expand into shoes, handbags, jewelry, underwear, according to Tahari, but first things first: The 150-piece collection is headed to Dillard's, Macy's and Bloomingdale's, where it is expected to compete with Michael Michael Kors (hence, the label's name?) Tops starting at $79 and faux leather jackets for $400 comprise the collection, which is slated to debut in August.
· Catherine Malandrino to Unveil Secondary Line at Magic [WWD]
· What Mega-High Ticket Item Did Designer Elie Tahari Buy But Never Use? [Racked]