AN ARDWICK-based clothing brand has secured a major new expansion deal with a sports fashion retail giant – just one year after it was founded.
Womenswear items from streetwear brand IL SARTO are set to be sold in up to 25 JD Sports stores across the country as of Spring/Summer 2020.
The company’s ‘cool-casual’ womenswear products are currently available in five JD stores, including inside Manchester’s Arndale Shopping Centre, and in Leeds and Kent.
Founder Brad Howard, who appeared on ITV’s The X Factor in 2017, said: “In the summer of last year we started off selling our womenswear products in three JD stores, then five, and as of next year it will be up to 25.
“The progress we’ve made in such a short amount of time is amazing and we’re currently working on the ranges that will be sold in the stores next year.As a brand we know we must now step-up in every way possible, including with our designs, some of which will be exclusive to JD.It’s one of the biggest brands we could be working with.”
IL SARTO was set up in May 2018 and sells branded, fitted clothing for men and women, which is influenced by Italian tailoring.
It sells its products online and wholesales its items to other retailers such as Footasylum.
Twelve months after it was founded shares in the company were bought by the co-owners of The Couture Club, another Manchester-based fashion firm, and its products are sold in The Couture Club’s stores.
Brad, a professional model who previously had a two-year relationship BBC Drama Our Girl’s Michelle Keegan, added: “Our style is clean cut and subtle, just like much of the fashion in Italy – IL SARTO means ‘the tailor’ in Italian.
“We have six in-house designers who have done a fantastic job with our collections so far.The good thing about working with The Couture Club is their progress has been huge and any mistakes they might have made along the way we benefit from learning from.I work closely with the co-founders Ross Worswick and Scott Shashua and our products feature in their campaigns.”
Brad, 32, launched IL SARTO after his stint on the X-Factor, which saw him get through to the third round – the last of 11 singers in the over 25’s category.
He wooed judge Nicole Scherzinger with his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s Lately.
He added: “I didn’t go on the X-Factor to be the next biggest singer, I just used a decent opportunity to my advantage.I love singing and I wanted to do something credible for myself.I gained a lot out of it and I don’t regret it at all.”
