VonZipper Eyewear Licensed to Madson of America
Eyewear brand VonZipper, which was sold to Authentic Brands Group in September along with the other Boardriders brands, has finally found a licensing partner.
Madson of America, another industry eyewear brand, has signed a licensing agreement with Authentic for the VonZipper e-commerce and wholesale channels in the U.S. and Canada.
Madson will also supply VonZipper goods to Authentic’s operating partners around the world, according to Authentic.
In addition, Madson will take on design and distribution for DotDash, a price point brand created under the VonZipper umbrella, through all channels. It is unclear whether VonZipper founder Greg (GT) Tomlinson will be involved with the brand going forward.
VonZipper has essentially been dormant since the Boardriders sale, with some retailers telling us they have run out of product and could not get restocked. A few other prominent retailers have told SES that given the challenging sunglass market and the lack of clarity to this point about VonZipper’s future, they were dropping the brand.
VonZipper catalogs from Tony Davis’ personal archive. Photo courtesy of Madson.
From what we understand, Authentic EVP David Brooks, who is in charge of the former Boardriders brands, wanted to find a licensing partner who understood VonZipper’s DNA and the action sports market in addition to the larger eyewear landscape as well.
“We are thrilled to unveil the final piece of the puzzle in VonZipper’s partner network,” Brooks said in a statement. “Madson shares our passion for innovation, quality, and the bold spirit that defines VonZipper. Together, we are confident that this partnership will expand VonZipper’s reach across generations and solidify its brand’s legacy as a leader in eyewear. VonZipper has always been about more than just products; it’s about a lifestyle, and with Madson, we’re excited to continue delivering that experience to our loyal community and new fans alike.”
Madson executives indicated in a statement they plan to reconnect with sales reps to get the brand on track.
“We are beyond stoked to bring VonZipper under our roof and breathe new life into a brand with years of established equity,” Madson co-founder Alan Ek said in a statement. “Our first priority is to connect with the reps and reach out to key retailers. This industry is built on relationships, and it all starts with the sales reps on the ground. Our goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible. We’ve been fortunate to have amazing partners in our existing Madson business, and we plan to build on that success with VonZipper and DotDash.”
“We’ve been fans of VonZipper from day one, and we hold immense respect for the dedicated team who has carried the flag for over two decades,” Madson co-founder Tony Davis said in a statement. “It’s an incredible honor to now be a part of this brand’s legacy. We truly believe that Madson is the best partner to continue VonZipper’s story – not just because of our solid business foundation and expertise in premium eyewear, but also because of our deep connection to the core market. We are excited to invest and use our team’s strong digital marketing skills to tell the VonZipper story and bring its legacy to a new generation of fans.”
VonZipper at Brave New World in New Jersey in 2021. SES file photo.
