American Greetings Properties has signed its first licensing partners for the Care Bears franchise in China, in two new deals brokered by licensing agency Medialink.

Licensees MINDStyle and B&AB Limited have been tapped for new product.

MINDStyle will use local artwork, environments and patterns to create apparel, accessories, gift and novelty lines targeted to teens and adults to introduce the Care Bears in the region, while B&AB Limited is planning a direct-to-retail line of apparel and fashion accessories in more than 70 of its stores in China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The agreements mark a strong first step into the territory and will also see new fashions arrive in the Philippines, Thailand, India and South Korea as well.

“China is a priority market for our team, and we’ve selected the right partners to create our brand recognition,” says Carla Silva, vice president, global licensing, AGP. “This is a long-term strategy for us, and we’re looking to grow the Care Bears franchise significantly in the years to come.”