Asset management firm Gordon Brothers has acquired the intellectual property of the Chinese Laundry footwear brands from Cels Brands, a family-owned business established in 1971. Gordon Brothers, known for its roles helping retailers deal with bankruptcies and store closures, has been moving into brand management and has licensed SCL Footwear Group, which specializes in mass production and distribution of men’s, women’s and children’s footwear, to further grow the trend-driven brand in the U.S.
Gordon Brothers plans to focus on building the individual Chinese Laundry brands — which include the namesake Chinese Laundry as well as Dirty Laundry, CL by Dirty Laundry and 42 Gold — to target specific consumer segments via marketing investments and expanded distribution through new licensees. Chinese Laundry joins Gordon Brothers’ recent additions to its brand portfolio — Nicole Miller, Rachel Zoe and LK Bennett.
“We’re proud to provide a complete solution for the assets that supports the path forward for this well-recognized brand, and excited to bring their merchandise to market,” said Greg Frattaroli, Senior Manager, North America Commercial and Industrial at Gordon Brothers in a statement. “The sale of approximately 1.5 million pairs of shoes is an excellent opportunity for retailers to acquire in-demand products to enhance their store inventory.”
Gordon Brothers is known for its roles helping retail companies deal with bankruptcies and store closures, such as brokering a sale of Big Lots assets to Variety Wholesalers December 2024 and restocking soon-to-be-closed Party City stores with merchandise to be sold during their closing sales in February 2025. However, the company also has become more involved in longer-term brand management; a Gordon Brothers executive discussed its “asset-light” strategy for revitalizing the Laura Ashley brand in January 2025.
Advertisement
