L.A.’s John Eshaya to design collections for Hot Topic and Torrid
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John Eshaya, founder of the contemporary Jet Clothing brand and former vice president of women’s wear at Ron Herman, has signed on as the first name-brand designer to create collections for teen-focused retailer Hot Topic and its plus-size spin-off concept, Torrid, reports Women’s Wear Daily.
L.A.-based Eshaya has inked a licensing agreement with Hot Topic Inc., and will design collections under the John Eshaya for Hot Topic label (which will be stocked in the chain’s 650 Hot Topic stores) and the John Eshaya for Torrid label (hitting Torrid’s 56 stores) in May.
This will be the first-ever licensing deal for Eshaya, who, during his tenure at Ron Herman, helped advance the popularity of California-based contemporary collections (lines priced just below designer collections) such as Citizens of Humanity and Juicy Couture.
The Hot Topic Inc. collections will start out small, he said, numbering seven to eight pieces each for the initial launches at Hot Topic and Torrid. Prices will be low — $40 and under at Hot Topic and $60 and under at Torrid.
Expect Eshaya’s casual, easy-breezy sensibilities to be present in each line. A stand-out look for the Hot Topic collection will be a printed loose jersey tank top and wrap jacket ensemble; a key look for the Hot Topic line will be cropped sweatpants.