PERTH: Womenswear label Jham looks set to expand its stockist base following a key New South Wales agency deal.
The Fremantle-based label – launched in 2003 by designer Jodie Hebb and her husband Andrew Mance - has signed with prominent NSW agency, Gina Griffith Fashion Marketing (GGFM). GGFM will begin the partnership by selling Jham's summer 09 range with a view to bringing key NSW stockists on board.\
The label also re-inforced its recall in New South Wales through its presence at Fashion Exposed Sydney from March 8 to 10, Hebb confirmed.
"Jham was really happy with Fashion Exposed. We secured 15 new stockists and as well as seeing many of our regular customers who placed orders for our summer 09 range."
While Jham traditionally offered two ranges a year, the success of its summer 09 sell had triggered a new strategy, she added.
"We're currently working on a fresh injection of new pieces for our summer 09 range. We feel that there is great scope with offering something new to help our customers invigorate their stores."
Jham also planned to support strong selling pieces through the implementation of a flexible manufacturing system.
"We aim to ensure that the majority of customers can capitalise on our fast moving items."
Hebb and Mance – the name "Jham" combines both their initials - were working in the film industry at Disney when they made the transition to fashion wholesaling, she confirmed. Transferring her visual flair from film to fashion design and leveraging Mance's sales experience, they identified a gap in the market for differentiated, high quality womenswear. Jham garments were made from quality silks, linens, cottons and wool blends, targeting "women who are fashionable and individual rather than trend driven," she said.
"I think that many women want quality clothing that is distinctive – that says 'I'm an individual' without straying too far into the extreme. Retail customers have embraced the label and are now supporting it with every range", Hebb said.
Jham's next step was to secure representation in Victoria, she added.