Not Your Daughter's Jeans Sells Stake

Denim apparel company Not Your Daughter's Jeans has sold a controlling interest of the company to New York private equity firm Falconhead Capital LLC for an undisclosed price. The private California-based denim manufacturer, marketer and distributor of women's jeans and pants was founded in 2003 by Lisa Rudes-Sandel and siblings Leslie and Kenneth, and also involves father George Rudes.
Their pants target "the average-sized, fashion-conscious 35+-year-old woman". All of Not Your Daughter's Jeans products use the company's proprietary "Tummy Tuck" technology, which flattens the stomach, contours the hips and lifts the buttocks using a combination of blended fabrics, crisscross stitching, reinforced pockets and increased rise.

Not Your Daughter's Jeans are in strong demand by leading department store retailers, and currently sell in Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Dillard's, among others. The company also sells to approximately 2,000 specialty stores nationally and internationally through distributors in Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and other countries.

"Our management team and employees have accomplished a great deal in the short five years since Not Your Daughter's Jeans was founded, and there are significant opportunities before us. The growth capital and new executive leadership that we have brought into the company through this transaction will enable us to take it to a new level and accomplish our long-term business objectives." said George Rudes in a statement.

Industry veteran Edwin Lewis will serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Not Your Daughter's Jeans. Lewis is the former chief executive officer of Tommy Hilfiger and Mossimo, and served in numerous senior executive positions over 18 years at Ralph Lauren including as President of the Women's Wear division. Lewis participated actively in Falconhead's transaction process and has made a personal investment in Not Your Daughter's Jeans.

The Rudes-family will remain actively involved in the company.

David S. Moross, chairman and chief executive officer of Falconhead Capital, said: "Falconhead is proud to invest in Not Your Daughter's Jeans, an innovative apparel company focused on a growing, underserved niche market. We believe that the company has exceptional growth opportunities through continued expansion of its product line, deepening relationships with retail partners and diversification of its distribution channels. "