Cool Brands, a brand management, creation, and licensing company, today announced that A Star Is Born™, a contemporary children’s lifestyle brand co-founded by actress, singer and entrepreneur, Vanessa Hudgens, has signed long-term strategic multi-category licensing partnerships with Centric Brands and Jay Franco & Sons. Retail introductions are slated to begin in 2027.
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Vanessa Hudgens’ A Star Is Born™ contemporary children’s lifestyle brand will launch at retail in 2027
A Star Is Born enters the market as a lifestyle ecosystem for newborns through age eight, built to scale across both soft and hardlines offering accessible solutions for young parents. The brand addresses growing consumer demand for elevated, thoughtfully designed children’s products that serve both child and parent. With Vanessa’s more than 78 million social media followers globally, Hudgens brings built-in cultural relevance and direct access to a highly engaged millennial and Gen Z parent audience.
“Our goal for A Star Is Born is to make life easier for parents without sacrificing design or comfort,” said Hudgens. “Creating thoughtful products for young families like mine is a dream come true.”
Cool Brands is breaking the traditional celebrity-brand mold with A Star Is Born. Rather than a short-term capsule or endorsement-driven launch, the company built the platform from the ground up as a long-term, multi-category licensing venture, with Hudgens’ involvement in product development, drawing inspiration from her personal journey into motherhood.
“A Star Is Born embodies Cool Brands’ mission to build brands with naturally positive cachet in partnership with creative talent and best in class manufacturers,” said Ezra S. Ashkenazi, Founder and CEO of Cool Brands, and a Principal and Founder of iHome Audio. “Over the past three decades, I’ve had the privilege of pioneering consumer and lifestyle brands and products across multiple categories. We are honored to partner with Vanessa, whose strong product intuition and warm, relatable spirit are reflected in the creative process, particularly during this meaningful chapter of her life as a mother.”
Centric Brands, a leading global lifestyle collective, will serve as the brand’s lead soft goods licensee producing apparel, soft footwear, bath accessories, and kid safe cosmetics. The engagement contains more than 90 distinct products across these categories, establishing a robust, multi-season and departmental product pipeline.
“With A Star Is Born, we’re merging Centric’s design expertise and retail reach to create something that feels both elevated and deeply personal within the baby and children’s space,” said Rob Smith, President, Kids at Centric Brands. “This brand is rooted in Vanessa’s sense of authenticity and joy—shaped by her experience as a new mom and her natural connection to a generation of modern, millennial parents. Together, we’re translating that point of view into a lifestyle that feels considered, effortless, and full of heart—celebrating the beauty in everyday moments.”
Jay Franco & Sons, a long-established home and bath company, will introduce bedding, bath, and home accessories, extending the brand into the home with more than 60 distinct products across these categories.
“A Star Is Born is a natural fit for us, as our approach has always catered to young families,” said Joe A. Franco, President, Jay Franco & Sons. “Jay Franco has built its reputation over more than eight decades on delivering quality products and designs that families trust. Our plan to introduce a comprehensive range across bedding, bath, and home, combined with Vanessa’s creative perspective, product vision, and highly engaged online audience, creates a compelling opportunity at retail.”
Cool Brands is in active discussions with additional leading partners across strollers/car seats and travel accessories, nursery furniture, feeding and mealtime, toys and developmental play, publishing, and health and wellness.
“Our objective is to thoughtfully build a trusted, one-stop family brand,” said Simon Douek, Principal at Cool Brands. “We are selectively engaging category leaders who share our commitment to premium quality, operational excellence and long-term brand building.”
Additional category announcements and retail partnerships are expected later this year.
For retail and licensing inquiries, please contact: simon@coolbrandsllc.com.
About Cool Brands LLC
Cool Brands is a New York–based brand management, creation and licensing company that develops scalable consumer brands in partnership with global talent, innovators and category leaders. The company specializes in building long-term lifestyle properties across fashion, home and consumer goods. The company also serves as a brand management partner, helping established brands expand their footprint through strategic licensing programs, as it has recently done for Nuby, the newborn to three-year old children’s brand.
For more information about Cool Brands, please visit www.coolbrandsllc.com.
About Centric Brands LLC
Centric Brands LLC is a leading global lifestyle brand collective that has unparalleled expertise in product design, development and sourcing, retail and digital commerce, marketing, and brand building. Centric designs, sources, markets, and sells high-quality products in the kids, men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, beauty, and entertainment categories. The Company’s portfolio includes licenses for more than 100 iconic brands, including Calvin Klein®, Tommy Hilfiger®, Nautica®, GAP®, Faherty®, and Under Armour® in the kid’s category; Buffalo®, Hervé Léger®, Joe’s Jeans® and Off-White® in the men’s and women’s apparel category; All Saints®, Coach®, Frye®, Hunter®, Kate Spade®, Michael Kors®, UGG®, and Vince® in the accessories category; and in the Sports & Entertainment category, Disney®, GAME 7®, Marvel®, Messi®, Nickelodeon®, and Warner Brothers® among many others. The Company also owns and operates Avirex®, Fiorelli®, Hudson®, Robert Graham®, Taste Beauty®, and Vingino® and operates joint venture brands; Favorite Daughter®, Jennifer Fisher®, John Elliott®, Eastside Golf® and Palm Tree Crew®. The Company’s products are sold globally through leading mass-market retailers, specialty and department stores, and online. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with U.S. offices in Los Angeles and Greensboro, and international offices in London, Holland, Montreal, Milan, Toronto, and including 15 sourcing locations throughout Asia. Centric Brands’ social impact efforts are centered around our commitment to serve and uplift the communities where we live and do business. Through our collective volunteerism and contributions, we are dedicated to making a caring and lasting impact on the world around us.
For more information about Centric Brands, please visit www.centricbrands.com.
About Jay Franco & Sons Inc.
Jay Franco and Sons is a family-owned, industry-leading home textiles manufacturer, trusted by well-known global brands around the world. Creating products that bring customers’ homes, dreams, and journeys to life since 1942, Jay Franco has built a reputation as the leading bedding, bath, and beach licensee — delivering high-quality, innovative home décor solutions at top retailers nationwide. With global offices spanning the US, UK, and China, the company services top global, national, and regional retailers while remaining committed to setting industry standards for quality and design. A diverse and dedicated team ensures something for every fan at every price point and every age, partnering with the world’s most iconic brands — including Disney, Marvel, LEGO, Minecraft, Warner Brothers, BBC, and Sanrio — to capture the imagination of fans from infant through adult.
For more information about Jay Franco & Sons, please visit www.jfranco.com/.
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