Brands
Entertainment One’s So So Happy adds new fashion partners
MUMBAI: Entertainment One (eOne) continues to bolster the US licensing programme of its popular teen/young adult lifestyle brand So So Happy with addition of a new roster of category-leading apparel and accessory partners.
The announcement follows close behind the recent signing of Kelly Teegarden Organics as the brand’s cosmetics partner.
The company is excited to announce a new collaboration with legendary alternative fashion company Iron Fist, known for its edgy, contemporary styles inspired by street art and underground culture. “We are thrilled to be working with the Iron Fist team,” said eOne Licensing’s pop culture and lifestyle division president Cindy Bailey. “Its distinctive style and our shared creative vision for the brand will translate into amazing and unique offerings for So So Happy enthusiasts as well as devotees of the Iron Fist brand.”
The licensed collection will include fashion tops and bottoms, blouses, sweaters and coats, dresses, jumpsuits, and footwear. “We are thrilled to be working with Cindy and her team at eOne,” said Iron Fist CEO Travis Anderson. “We share the same creative vision and we love the brand so it just made sense to collaborate.”
Leading pop-culture fashion companies Loungefly and Goodie Two Sleeves are also on board to produce a collection of So So Happy apparel and accessories for the US market.These companies are known for producing quality, fashion-forward items for independent boutiques and specialty chains.
Licensee Goodie Two Sleeves has uniquely positioned itself as a provider of tees, hoodies and related separates, often with funny but positive sayings, making it a natural choice for eOne’s upscale teen brand.“Goodie is committed to serving boutique and specialty customers, and their mantra of combining fashion with ‘clean’ humour is very much in line with So So Happy’s message,” said Bailey.
“We are thrilled to be working with the entire eOne team, and look forward to creating unique and fashion-forward items that will keep our customers coming back for more,” said Goodie Two Sleeves VP Robert Arce.
The Loungefly collection will include fashion bags, wallets, coin purses, lanyards, lunch boxes, plush bags, backpack clips and novelties featuring So So Happy’s distinctive characters and designs. The line will be previewed at MAGIC and available in fall at price points ranging from $6.50 – $65.00.
“Loungefly is the premier maker of contemporary junior accessories for our specialty market,” said Bailey. “Our consumers absolutely covet their products and we’re very excited to have them on board as a key So So Happy partner.”
“It feels good to work with a property like So So Happy and we are committed to designing accessories that will allow for the positive messaging to shine through,” said Loungefly operations director Jason Hoffman.
Brands
Havas reports solid Q1 2026 with 2.5 per cent organic net revenue growth
Advertising group maintains positive momentum and confirms full-year guidance.
MUMBAI: Havas has started 2026 on a strong note proving that even in uncertain times, its converged model continues to deliver. The global advertising and communications group reported net revenue of €638 million for the first quarter of 2026, representing organic growth of +2.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. This performance was driven particularly by a robust +7.4 per cent organic growth in the United States.
Total revenue for the quarter reached €667 million, with organic growth of +2.8 per cent. Recent acquisitions contributed a positive scope impact of +1.7 per cent, while foreign exchange movements had a negative impact of -5.8 per cent, mainly due to the US dollar and British pound.
Europe, which accounts for 50 per cent of net revenue, delivered +1.1 per cent organic growth, supported by a good performance in France. North America (36 per cent of net revenue) led the way with +7.4 per cent growth, thanks to strong contributions from both Havas Creative and Havas Media. APAC & Africa (8 per cent) saw a decline of -6.2 per cent, while Latin America (6 per cent) remained nearly stable at -0.6 per cent.
Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré said, “Havas has started 2026 on a solid footing, continuing its momentum and delivering organic growth in net revenue of +2.5 per cent. This performance, in line with our full-year 2026 guidance, was driven in particular by continued strength in the US.”
The group also continued its bolt-on acquisition strategy, acquiring majority stakes in four agencies during the quarter: Acento Public Affairs (Spain), Ctrl Digital (Sweden), Styleheads (Germany), and Eyesight (France).
Havas maintained its strong creative reputation, ranking as a top holding company in the WARC Creative 100 for the sixth consecutive year, with three agencies BETC, Havas Paris, and Havas India placing in the Top 50.
Looking ahead, Havas confirmed its 2026 guidance: organic net revenue growth between +2.0 per cent and +3.0 per cent, adjusted EBIT margin between 13.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent, and a dividend payout ratio of around 40 per cent. The group also reiterated its medium-term targets for 2028.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, Havas enters the rest of the year with solid fundamentals and confidence in its ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.
In a challenging environment, Havas is proving that its integrated, client-centric model remains resilient delivering steady growth while continuing to invest in creativity and innovation. The first quarter results suggest the group is well-positioned to navigate the year ahead with confidence.
