Above The Rim (ATR), a performance basketball brand managed by Collective Licensing International (CLI), announced that it has entered into a five-year licensing agreement with ACI International (ACI) for the brand. ACI will work with ATR on a new collection of performance basketball footwear, with a limited fall collection available in Oct. 2010, and a wider collection targeting Spring 2011. The line will include both team product designed for everyday play and signature styles designed with Above The Rim's professional athletes.
Above The Rim, founded in 1989 as the original "player's brand," is being re-launched this year by CLI with a fresh, contemporary new brand position focused on the next generation of young, exciting basketball players that truly "rise above" challenges both on and off of the court. ATR recently announced the signing of rising NBA player Martell Webster, shooting guard for the Portland Trailblazers, who will work hand-in-hand with ATR and ACI to design and launch his own signature Above The Rim basketball style.
"The entire team here at ACI is excited to be working on Above The Rim with Collective Licensing International," said Steven Jackson, ACI's CEO. "The brand has always represented progressive design and performance and we very much look forward to reinforcing this heritage as we re-launch the brand with our partners at Collective."
The partnership between CLI and ACI represents the confluence of CLI's best in class brand building capabilities in the youth lifestyle market and ACI's expertise in the development of innovative, performance-based athletic footwear.
"ACI has a deep understanding of the consumers, market trends and latest technologies within the basketball segment," said Bruce Pettet, President and CEO at Collective Licensing International. "With their proven product development and strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities we're thrilled to partner with them as our primary licensee in the U.S. on the re-launch of footwear for the Above The Rim brand."
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