Scarlett & Crimson Signs Art Ask for Southern Europe

Coolabi has named the Barcelona-based Art Ask Agency to handle its Scarlett & Crimson brand in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

The deal follows the signing of Lisa Marks & Associates for North America and Gorian Consumer Products for both the GAS and Benelux regions.

Scarlett & Crimson, created and co-owned by Ged Backland, launches in U.K. retailer Boots later this year a range of gift cosmetics developed by beauty industry celebrities Ruby Hammer and Millie Kendall. A collection of limited-edition women's vests by catwalk designer Robert Cary-Williams also launch this year.

The first two in a 16-title series of books for the U.K. and U.S. from Simon & Schuster, which feature Scarlett and Crimson's band, "The Darq Starz," will also launch. In support of this, Coolabi has commissioned six tracks of original music for delivery in July. The rollout of the virtual band will be managed over the course of 2009/10.

The Scarlett and Crimson Web site launches in July. Created by Kids Industries for tween girls, it will feature a music maker, a social networking area and e-commerce.

"Scarlett & Crimson is a property with great potential, a quality design-led license that we are confident we can take a long way," says Maria Strid of Art Ask Agency.

"Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey are all markets with large potential audiences for the unique and stylish brand that is Scarlett & Crimson," says Janet Woodward, head of licensing at Coolabi. "Art Ask Agency has a reputation for taking on exciting and original art, design and character-led properties and identifying licensing opportunities that reflect and enhance their unique qualities for a large audience. They are the ideal choice to bring Scarlett & Crimson to these five markets."