NEW YORK — Harvé Benard Ltd., which produces women’s better sportswear, outerwear, suits and dresses under the Harvé Benard brand, has acquired a majority interest in sportswear and outerwear firm New Frontier from the Windsong Allegiance Group LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In business since 1990, New Frontier is a women’s casual better sportswear brand catering to about 600 specialty stores nationwide. This deal marks the first acquisition for Harvé Benard, which has been in business since 1967.
Howard Sheer remains on board with New Frontier, the company he founded, as a minority owner and president. In addition, Sheer will assume the post of president of Harvé Benard, with company-wide responsibility for sales and merchandising.
“This is an aspect of the business that we didn’t have in the past,” said Bernard Holtzman, co-owner of Harvé Benard Ltd., a $100 million firm. “Harvé Benard is known for its tailored clothing, while New Frontier is more casual better sportswear.”
Sheer said he chose to leave Windsong after a two-year partnership with them to join Harvé Benard.
“The infrastructure here is better for our needs,” Sheer said. “We want to grow this brand and we can do that here. Windsong was great, but more for men’s wear.”
In addition to New Frontier, Sheer is now testing a contemporary pants line, Crosby, in select stores. In March, he will launch Territories, a better women’s separates brand targeting department stores.