No good news has come out of Bill Blass since Peter Som’s departure from its Couture division. Today we learn Bill Blass New York will liquidate. Bill Blass New York is a direct-sales apparel firm licensed by Bill Blass in 2006 (owned by investment firm Angelo Gordon & Co.) that made cheaper clothing than the Som-designed line. Industry sources speculate trunk-show consumers severely reined in spending after the stock market went to hell, forcing Bill Blass New York to liquidate.
But Bill Blass Couture — the line Peter Som designed until last month — isn’t doing well either. NexCen owns the label and has been trying to sell it for months, but the process is taking longer than expected. WWD reports some retailers passed on the spring 2009 collection because they’re nervous about what will happen with NexCen and the sale of the label. If the clothes aren’t selling, will the business survive? And will we ever see Som’s Blass line in stores? This is no way to head into the holidays!
