New legwear partnership marks two decades of success, growth for kiWW.

Kathy Ireland is returning to the category that launched her empire–socks–in a new deal with Kiss Legwear.

A little over two decades ago, the supermodel launched her licensing business with a $50,000 loan and a desire to design a better pair of socks. Now her company boasts more than 17,000 SKUs across a spectrum of categories with global retail sales of licensed merchandise totaling $2 billion in 2014, making kiWW the 31st largest licensor in the world, according to License! Global's exclusive Top 150 Global Licensors report.

"It is a great joy to move forward with Robert Sussman, Robin Kelz and the entire team at Kiss Legwear Group. We watched this jewel of a company develop other licensing properties into great success stories. We have wonderful dreams and aspirations for this relationship," says Ireland, chief executive officer and chief designer, kiWW. "In our history, beginning with John and Marilyn Moretz, our brand has sold over 100 million pairs of socks. John and Marilyn join all of us in welcoming Kiss Legwear Group to the kathy ireland Worldwide group of fashion partners."

Kiss Legwear will create a line of kathy ireland legwear that Ireland will conceive and market. The first collection, for spring 2016, is being showcased at the company's New York showroom this week. 

"We are thrilled to join forces with the iconic kathy ireland brand and to bring to the market the latest in legwear looks and designs," says Robert Sussman, president, Kiss Legwear, a division of the ETC Group. "Robin Kelz, and our fabulous design team look forward to working with Kathy and her amazing team to develop the highest quality legwear in the marketplace."