Marchesa to launch a contemporary line

Marchesa, known for its red carpet gowns, founded by British fashion designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, has confirmed that it is set to launch a lower-priced contemporary line. The womenswear label has inked a licensing

 agreement with LF USA, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-headquartered Li & Fung Limited, which also recently entered into a multi-year licensing and design agreement with New York-based womenswear label, Vena Cava.

The still-to-be-named label will feature daywear and accessories and is set to roll-out for pre-fall 2013, and the collection, which will feature the brand’s hallmark embroidery and prints, is set to retail for between $150 and $750.

The contemporary line is the latest addition to the Marchesa label, which also includes a ready-to-wear runway collection, a bridal line, a lower-priced frock line called Notte, and most recently the brand launched a tabletop collection with Lenox. The successful label, which established in 2004, has wholesale earning projections of $12m per year for the brand's wearable products.

“It’s going to be under the Marchesa umbrella, but with a slightly different feel. We have been so specific for such a long time, and the idea to broaden out to a different consumer, and to our same consumer as well. We haven’t really looked at that market yet. My dream is to give Marchesa many facets, and that’s just one of them,” explained Chapman to WWD.

The Marchesa contemporary line will join LF USA’s other apparel brands including Rachel Zoe, Sofia Vergara and Daisy Fuentes.

Image: Marchesa AW12