Dive Brief:
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Men's Wearhouse on Monday said that it has expanded its partnership with football player turned broadcast journalist Michael Strahan and his business partner, Constance Schwartz-Morini, on a collection of "workleisure" apparel.
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Under Strahan's MSX label, the collection includes hoodies, joggers, henleys, T-shirts, shorts and polos in sizes S through XXL, priced from $19.99 to $39.99, according to a press release.
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Starting Monday, these items can be found at U.S. Men's Wearhouse stores nationwide, MSXByMichaelStrahan.com, and through Tailored Brands' Moores banner in Canada, the company said.
Dive Insight:
This effort is a response to the growing appeal of athletic and athleisure apparel, though some observers would say it's long overdue from Men's Wearhouse.
With so many people working from home, apparel sales, in general, have plummeted, though sales in that more casual segment have exploded, with analysts at The NPD Group expecting it to remain lucrative even once the pandemic subsides.
"The addition of these new pieces offer our customers more versatile, well-crafted options while delivering a true lifestyle brand experience," Peter Sachse, interim co-CEO of Tailored Brands, said in a statement. "These MSX styles have been an inspiring collaboration with Michael, his team, and the talented design, merchandising, and marketing teams at Tailored Brands."
Although the men's clothing company last year blamed the pandemic for its bankruptcy and falling sales, the casualization of menswear began long before last year, and some analysts have said it's been slow to respond. The company struggled financially for years before its Chapter 11 filing last year and has continued to scramble since, borrowing more money and shaking up its leadership.
Strahan has stayed in the limelight after his football career, as a game commentator and morning talk show host. He launched his Collection by Michael Strahan in 2015 as a men's and boy's tailored clothing and accessories brand exclusive to J.C. Penney and launched MSX by Michael Strahan a year later, according to Monday's release.
