National Geographic is launching a global licensing program built around sustainable materials, starting with British shoemaker/retailer Clarks’ adult and children’s DTR footwear collection in the spring, said National Geographic’s Helena Mansell-Stopher in the wake of the recent Brand Licensing Europe.

Clarks will field 26 SKUs, including 16 from the children’s collection that will made from recycled plastic bottles.  The adult collection will include three desert boots featuring printed photos of a snow leopard, tiger and jaguar from the PhotoArk, a collection of wildlife photographer Joel Sartore’s pictures of endangered species.

The footwear will have tags stating how many of the endangered species remain and printed inside the shoes will be PhotoArk’s #staytogether hashtag. It will be sold through Clarks’ stores and other retailers in markets where the footwear supplier doesn’t have locations.

The program with Clarks is part an overall effort by National Geographic to push licensees to use PET plastic, recycled cardboard for packaging and other sustainable materials in their products.

Separately, National Geographic also will begin the first of several themed apparel collections in spring 2019 with a 10-piece animal design DTR collection of t-shirts and pajamas at John Lewis department stores aimed at children ages 6-11. Licensee Dreamtex also will have adult and children’s bedding at John Lewis in the spring made with PET recycled plastic fibers and pure cotton.

That animal collection will be supplemented by a space theme in July 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing

“We will look at how we keep the conversation (sustainable materials and the environment) moving so that it doesn’t go away, but changes with the season,” says Mansell-Stopher.

Licensing also will continue for National Geographic original series such as “Mars 2” (which airs Nov. 12 in the U.S.) and “Cosmos” (spring 2019 in the U.S.), but more in how the programming fits into an overall theme such as space as opposed to licensing for the programs themselves, says Mansell-Stopher. Cosmos, a follow-up to the 1980s series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage” with Carl Sagan, is returning for a second season.

National Geographic has appointed country directors in France, Germany, Eastern Europe (outside Poland), Italy and Spain, says Mansell-Stopher, who joined National Geographic as UK country director in January. “We are looking at how we can have conversations with retailers and licensees to drive the brand locally,” says Mansell-Stopher.

Contact:

National Geographic, Helena Mansell-Stopher, UK Country Dir., +44 7973 849389