TROY, Mich. (Thalia Official Website) - Kmart Corporation and Latin entertainer
Thalia today announced a long-term, exclusive agreement that will bring an exciting collection of branded apparel, accessories, footwear and lingerie designed and inspired by the actress and singer to select Kmart stores across the country in 2003. Kmart Chairman and CEO
James B. Adamson and
Thalia announced the partnership at a press event at the restaurant Dos Caminos in New York City.
"As the store of the neighborhood, Kmart is committed to reflecting the local culture. We're thrilled to welcome Thalia to our family and are especially excited to introduce a new, exclusive brand designed to appeal to the Hispanic community," said Adamson. "We hope the Thalia collection will continue to reinforce Kmart as a destination store one where families come to find the exclusive brands they trust and cannot find anywhere else.
"Kmart is incredibly supportive of the Hispanic community and is therefore an ideal partner for my exclusive collection," said Thalia. "Kmart appreciates and supports exclusive brands. I will work closely with Kmart's designers to ensure my collection features my own designs, captures my personal fashion style and includes my favorite fabrics and silhouettes."
The partnership between Kmart and Thalia is a long-term commitment with exponential growth possibilities. The Thalia Collection will be available in Kmart stores in the summer of 2003. At the launch, the collection will include apparel for women and girls, as well as footwear, accessories and lingerie with plans to expand the line into additional categories such as color cosmetics, fragrances and jewelry.
As the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population and with a total buying power of more than $500 billion, Hispanic customers contribute more than 17-percent of Kmart's total sales. With 62-percent total awareness and universal appeal among Hispanics, the Thalia brand will strengthen Kmart's commitment to its Spanish-speaking customers. Kmart recently increased its offerings to this segment of the population by producing its weekly advertising circular in Spanish and launching "La Vida," an entertainment and lifestyle supplement that wraps around the Spanish circular and contains features and articles that resonate with the heritage and cultural nuances of the Hispanic community. Thalia was featured on the cover of the October issue of the supplement.
Born Thalia Ariadna Sodi, Thalia began her career as a child on Mexican television, in Mexico City's theater and as a member of popular children's singing group Din Din and the teen pop act Timbiriche. As a teen, Thalia rose to international stardom with staring roles on soap operas such as "Quincea�era," and the soap opera trilogy "Maria Mercedes," "Marimar" and "Maria la del barrio."
Since Thalia's solo singing career began in 1991, she has released nine solo albums that have all gone platinum across the world, culminating with her latest, Thalia. Thalia spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard charts and has spun two number-one singles.
The popularity of the recently released Thalia has taken the singer across the globe several times on whirlwind promotional tours where fans virtually line the streets anticipating her arrival. Thalia has performed on several television shows across the nation and has received many accolades for her work including three Latin Grammy nominations.
Her performance on this year's Latin Grammy Awards was one of the night's highlights. The singer, who earlier this year was named one of the "25 Most Beautiful People" in People en Espanol, is currently recording her first ever English-language album, which is due out early next year.
