Starter and VILLA Unveil a Pop-Up Retail Experience During 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend at NYC's Paramount Hotel -- "The Starter x Villa Clubhouse"

Starter©

-February 3rd - February 15th
-Features Artwork Curated by Naturel
-Exclusive Product Drops and Limited Edition Releases
-Special Events to Include Celebrity and Athlete Appearances

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2015 -- In celebration of 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend - Starter, the legendary sports apparel brand founded in 1971 and owned by Iconix Brand Group, announces the "The Starter x Villa Clubhouse" a pop-up retail experience taking place at the Paramount Hotel in Times Square.

 The store is open from February 3rd to February 15th and will be operated in partnership with VILLA, a Philadelphia-based lifestyle retailer of urban-inspired footwear and apparel. In addition Carl Banks, President of G-III Sports and 2x Super Bowl Champion, will be hosting a series of special events which include product launches, fan appreciation nights, celebrity DJ parties, charity events, athlete appearances and radio/TV/online broadcasts.

"The Starter x Villa Clubhouse" represents VILLA's first-ever retail space in NYC, and as such will feature artwork curated by contemporary urban illustrator and artist Lawrence Atoigue (aka Naturel) to pay homage to "all things New York" with influences drawn from pop art, surrealism, sports and hip hop.

Photos courtesy of the Paramount Hotel©

"This is a unique opportunity for us to reach our VILLA customer, many of whom live and breathe basketball," says Patrick Walsh, VP of Marketing at VILLA. "With the exciting product releases and dynamic events taking place, we are certain "The Starter x Villa Clubhouse" will be THE destination during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Exclusive products available at "The Starter x Villa Clubhouse" include a wide assortment of NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA team jackets and items from the Starter Black Label premium collection. Also limited edition VILLA #REFRESH launches include Starter's satin jacket packs called "Forgotten Franchises", "Big East" and "Slam Dunk", Timberland's 6' "Emerald" and "Sweet Potato" boots as well as the Reebok Question Pump, "A Day in Philly."

Photos courtesy of the Paramount Hotel©

"I am excited to welcome basketball fans to NYC for NBA All-Star Weekend. It's great to work with the Paramount Hotel and VILLA to create memorable experiences through products and events that you won't be able to find anywhere else," says Carl Banks, President of G-III Sports. "Our Starter "Slam Dunk" pack specifically honors the rich history and iconic dunks from NBA All-Star legends."

Hours of The Starter x Villa Clubhouse are 11am-8pm Sunday – Thursday / 11am-10pm Friday – Saturday.

www.starter.com / www.ruvilla.com

Twitter: @starter / @ruvilla

Instagram: @starterofficial / @ruvilla

Facebook: @starter / @villa

Photos courtesy of the Paramount Hotel©

For more information regarding the The Starter x Villa Clubhouse, to speak to company executives or to request Starter samples, please contact Sarah Cirkiel Gladstone (sarah@teasemarketing.com) at 212.475.4919.

ABOUT STARTER

- Owned by Iconix Brand Group, Starter stands for heritage, authenticity and sports performance and is committed to producing apparel to the highest standards of design and value. Established in 1971, Starter pioneered the fusion of sports clothing with popular culture by forging partnerships with major professional sports leagues, colleges, Olympics sports and individual athletes.

ABOUT VILLA

- VILLA strives to be the premier fashion retailer by fusing the best of fashion and music into a high energy shopping experience. VILLA is committed to delivering superior customer service along with financial support and volunteer service to the communities we serve.

ABOUT G-III APPAREL GROUP

- G-III is a leading manufacturer and distributor of outerwear, dresses, sportswear, swimwear, women's suits and women's performance wear, as well as footwear, luggage and women's handbags, small leather goods and cold weather accessories, under licensed brands, our own brands and private label brands. G-III sells swimwear, resort wear and related accessories under our own Vilebrequin brand. G-III also sells outerwear, dresses and performance wear under our own Andrew Marc and Marc New York brands and has licensed these brands to select third parties in certain product categories. G-III has fashion licenses under the Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Guess?, Tommy Hilfiger, Jones New York, Jessica Simpson, Vince Camuto, Ivanka Trump, Nine West, Ellen Tracy, Kensie, Mac & Jac, Levi's and Dockers brands. Through our team sports business, we have licenses with the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Touch by Alyssa Milano and more than 100 U.S. colleges and universities. Our other owned brands include Bass, G.H. Bass, G-III Sports by Carl Banks, Eliza J, Black Rivet, Jessica Howard and Winlit. G-III also operates retail stores under the Wilsons Leather, Bass, G.H. Bass & Co., Vilebrequin, Calvin Klein Performance and Andrew Marc names.



SOURCE Starter Clubhouse through PRNewswire by press release ©

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