Nelvana, Clifford Ross Team with Rowing Blazers for ‘Babar’ Fashion

The children’s book is making its way to the fashion world.

December 3, 2020

Nelvana, an international producer, distributor and licensor of children’s animated and live-action content, and The Clifford Ross Company have announced their partnership with New York apparel brand and retailer Rowing Blazers to launch an apparel and accessories collection featuring children’s literary character Babar.

The collection, launched globally on Rowing Blazers’ website on Dec. 3, sees menswear, womenswear and accessories in the first collection. The collection comes ahead of Babar’s milestone 90th anniversary in 2021.

“Babar has always been known for his dapper style and his iconic green suit, making it the ideal brand to elevate with New York apparel brand and retailer, Rowing Blazers,” says Mellany Masterson, head, Nelvana Enterprises. “Given Rowing Blazer’s innovative and authentic approach to launching high-end products and their genuine passion for reinventing classics, this is truly the perfect collaboration as we head into the brand’s 90th anniversary.”

The Rowing Blazers

x Babar fall/winter 2020 collection features 20 SKUs inspired by the original Babar character illustrations, including a green suit, as well as shirts, sweatshirts, pants, jackets, t-shirts, hats, totes and ties. In addition to Rowing Blazer’s website and New York flagship store, product from the collection will also be available at Selfridges and End in the U.K. and Maiden’s Usonian Goods Store in Japan.

“I've loved Babar since I read the books as a child,” says Jack Carlson, founder, Rower Blazers. “He helped me to learn French (mostly forgotten now), but he also taught me about the world. The

Babar

books are a potent mixture of glamorous, mid-century jet-set travel; family dramas and diversions, feasts and parties; and, of course, occasional matters of state. Babar has a perfect wardrobe, great adventures and he always travels in style, whether he's skiing in Switzerland, picking up an honorary degree at Harvard or surveying Egyptian ruins. I've wanted to release a Babar collaboration since I started Rowing Blazers, and I'm so proud and excited that it's now a reality.”