Marquee Brands, the parent of the BCBG, Ben Sherman, Body Glove, Dakine, Isotoner, and Totes brands, and home to other notable home brands, including Martha Stewart, Laura Ashley, and Sur La Table, has acquired Stance, the lifestyle and performance sock brand.
Founded in 2009 in San Clemente, CA, Stance joins Marquee Brands’ portfolio, bringing total retail sales across Marquee’s portfolio to $4.5 billion.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are thrilled to welcome Stance into the portfolio as an established cultural touchpoint known for bold design, creativity and collaborations with athletes, musicians and artists,” offered Heath Golden, CEO of Marquee Brands. “We are incredibly excited to build on that momentum in partnership with United Legwear, an industry and category leader. Together we see an opportunity to build global scale, accelerate category expansion and advance our shared strategy of investing in high-equity brands with enduring consumer relevance.”
Marquee also announced a new partnership with United Legwear and Apparel Co. (ULAC), now the brand’s core global licensee managing operations across all territories except China. With products sold in 42 countries through over 1,100 U.S. wholesale accounts, e-commerce, international distributors and mono-branded retail stores, ULAC will oversee Stance’s product segments of socks and underwear for men, women, and kids and lead design, development, retail, e-commerce, and distribution.
“Recognized for redefining the sock category, Stance has built a loyal following through its premium quality, material innovation and exceptional design,” Marquee said in its acquisition announcement. “Now part of Marquee Brands, the acquisition establishes the company’s foothold in the everyday essentials space and extends its reach across the lifestyle category.”
Stance’s lineup includes longstanding partnerships with the NBA, MLB, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as prior collaborations with artists, athletes and cultural figures, including Billie Eilish, Dwyane Wade and the Estate of Basquiat.
“Established in fabric technology and development, Stance is well-positioned to broaden its product range, starting with activewear, athleisure and footwear,” the company said.
Isaac E. Ash, president and CEO of ULAC, added his take on the new relationship.
“ULAC partners on brands that share our drive to innovate and inspire,” he noted. “Stance is a perfect fit — a pioneering brand that transformed everyday essentials into expressions of style, and has built an impressive following through bold design, cultural storytelling and a community of athletes and artists. ULAC is excited to partner with Marquee Brands and continue that legacy.”
Marquee Brands, backed by longstanding financial sponsor Neuberger Berman, said it “continues to scale its platform by investing in globally recognized brands with consumer relevance and applying a proven business model that drives operational excellence, key category expansion and long-term value creation across markets.”
RBC Capital Markets served as the financial advisor, and Greenberg Traurig served as the legal advisor to Marquee Brands. Solomon Partners served as the financial advisor, and Jones Day served as the legal advisor to Stance.
Image courtesy Stance
