Hilco Brands and an owner of Halston announced Halston sold its H by Halston and H Halston brands to New York-based Xcel Brands, and retained its Halston and Halston Heritage brands.

The sale is expected to leverage Xcel Brand’s significant expertise and historical track record in licensing, international sourcing, distribution and customer access through its omnichannel platform, as well as its extensive marketing resources. Xcel Brands owns the Isaac Mizrahi and Judith Ripka labels and has an interest in the Liz Claiborne New York label sold on interactive TV and in better bricks and mortar retail distribution.

Xcel Brands Chairman and CEO Robert D’Loren said that these brands are an ideal complement to our existing portfolio of brands and are synergistic with our existing omnichannel distribution platform: “I am excited by the prospects of exploring future brand opportunities with Hilco.”

Jeffrey Hecktman, chairman and CEO of Hilco Global indicated that,p “We view this as a long term strategic alliance with Xcel Brands.”

In a related, but separate transaction, Hilco Global participated in a private placement of Xcel stock, purchasing $6 million of Xcel stock.
In 2007, a division of Hilco Global that specializes in revitalizing brands, acquired the Halston IP and has been expanding the apparel brands retail presence strategically for several years. In 2011, Ben Malka joined the company as chairman and CEO, having previously served as President of BCBG Max Azria since 2001. Malka also serves on the Xcel’s board of directors.

Designer Roy Halston Frowick launched the Halston brand in the 1960s. Halston become a fashion sensation when he designed the pillbox hat that Jacqueline Kennedy wore to her husband’s presidential inauguration in 1961.