Baby Phat: Death By 1,000 Cuts

This week, Kimora Lee Simmons landed in New York City and quickly reminded city-goers that she is much more than just a pretty face.  She paid a visit to New York's WPIX to talk about her latest initiative with Bounty--this time giving teachers recognition for all of their hard work. She stopped by CNN's Headline News to give some perspective on current Hollywood hot topics.  She made an appearance on BET's 106 & Park to talk about her new role as President and Creative Director of JustFab.com, AND she gave an awesome talk about what it takes to be a successful woman in business at an event sponsored by Verizon.  Total domination and I love it!

While she's crisscrossing the country, and the globe, making some serious moves, the name Kimora Lee Simmons keeps popping up everywhere. Meanwhile, Baby Phat is slipping further and further into obscurity.  They are mocked now for having separated from Kimora and the rapidly degrading quality is pissing customers off, creating even further disgust and brand abandon.  It's great!  I sent them a tweet this morning, "Death by a 1,000 cuts..." because that's what's happening.  It's more enjoyable to watch too because you just know they are suffering--fully aware that the end is nigh--trying one dumb gimmick after another!  Fools!  I wanted Baby Phat to crash and burn the week after Kimora announced the separation, but that was just my hot-headed response to how they'd treated her and the customer base.  There are people who are STILL only just finding out that Kimora isn't there anymore, because she works like a damn machine and she'd put her mark on every corner of this globe.  So, it was never possible for them to crash and burn right away.  But.....it's coming. A 1,000 cuts.

Check out a clip from Kimora's appearance at 106 & Park (below) and then head over to KLS.com to see more clips and see what else she's up to! Remember, do not buy any Baby Phat clothing!  The Baby Phat fragrances still belong to Kimora, so happy shopping, but don't buy those damn clothes!  And, tell your friends!  The holiday season is upon us.  Just say NO to Baby Phat! --Sugar

Kimora Does Skincare

Not much longer now! Another thorn in Kellwood's side. Kimora Lee Simmons's new skincare line, Shinto Clinical will be ready for purchase! Check out the sexy design of the packaging! Well, at least according to The Dieline. Be sure to visit the product website, http://www.shintoclinical.com/ and check in at Kimora's website, http://www.kls.com/ often for updates. Baby who? --Sugar

Kellwood, Burned By Sun Capital, Burns Kimora?

As I continue to research this Kellwood, Kimora Lee Simmons and Baby Phat situation, the plot gets thicker and thicker and I'm getting angrier and angrier. I stumbled upon this New York Times article earlier today, Sun Capital Gets Hostile With Kellwood. And, this one, For Sun Capital's Partners, Madoff Losses, Layoffs and Another Bankruptcy, and this one Kellwood Accepts Sun Capital's Takeover Offer, among many, many others about Sun Capital's aggressive attempts to acquire Kellwood Company in 2007 and 2008.

The two guys in the photo above are Marc Leder (left) and Rodger Krouse. They are the founders of Sun Capital Partners, a private equity firm. Pretty young guys to be kicking up so much dust to get their hands on Kellwood. Their reputation preceeded them at Kellwood I'm sure, because they've left a trail of tears behind them in their apparent quest for world domination.

Just over a year after they snatched Kellwood, Josh Kosman wrote this in an article for Lexis Nexis about Sun Capital:

Sun Capital Partners, which just a couple of years ago was among the hottest private-equity groups in the country, has fallen upon hard times of late - a victim of the recession, bad management decisions and - according to critics - outright greed.

Right after they acquired Kellwood, Jason Bernzweig, vice president of Sun Capital said this in a Reuters article:

Jason Bernzweig, vice president of Sun Capital, said the firm is prepared to commit "substantial resources beyond the purchase price to build Kellwood's business" and plans to "work closely with management and employees at Kellwood to strengthen the company and develop its branded portfolio."

Well, we know that's a lie because they got their mitts on Kellwood in February 2008 and before the year was over, Kellwood was trying to give Holly Dunlap and her Hollywould, Inc., maker of handbags and shoes, the boot. Kellwood says that the plans were in place before the takeover by Sun Capital, but I don't believe that either. They did at least have the decency to offer a brief statement about the split, stating that both parties had:

"mutually agreed to explore a range of strategic alternatives for the business".

I'm so sure. What I'm not sure about is why Holly was given the courtesy of a statement when Kimora was not. I have never even heard of any Hollywould, Inc. No disrespect to Holly. Myself and millions of others do know who Kimora Lee Simmons is and she's sent away in the dark of night? The hell?

So, what's the deal? Is Sun Capital a fu*k up that bit off more Kellwood than it could chew, subsequently leading to the untimely dismissal of Kimora Lee Simmons and her staff from Baby Phat/Phat Fashions, or are they both (Kellwood and Sun Capital) fu*k ups who just didn't know what to do with a brand that started out with an urban and African-American slant, but which grew to become so much more, crossing all demographics? Whatever the case, they fu$ked up because I'm going to work hard to see to it that this is a red Christmas for both of them where Baby Phat is concerned. You didn't have the decency to let the customer base know that you've unceremoniously shown Kimora the door, continuing to try to make sales off of unsuspecting buyers. That has to and that will stop. No respect? No dollars. If you want to know how you can still support Kimora, visit her website, KLS.com. --Sugar