The company behind Bukta, which made George Best’s Manchester United kit, has a £1m pot to revive more heritage brands and build on Bukta’s success overseas.
Global Brands Licensing controls Asian product rights for Bukta, which was popular in the 60s and 70s after United and other top teams wore their kits.
Its clothes have seen a revival in Asia thanks to the trend for retro sportswear.
Manchester-based Global has raised £1m in a PLUS stock market float and now hopes to replicate Bukta’s Asian success in the US.
The sportswear firm was founded in Manchester in 1879.
Global is also negotiating to license rights for singer Beyonce and her partner, the rapper Jay-Z and it controls product rights for Marilyn Monroe in the UK and Asia, including the famous ‘air vent’ picture.
Non-executive director Marcus Cassidy said: “We have announced to the market that we are in talks to finalise a deal with Beyonce and Jay-Z, hopefully within two or three months.
“I can’t go into specifics at the moment but it will be quite radical and a new market for them.”
Global also has the global licence for fashion designer Ronit Zilkha, who was a favourite of Princess Diana, which it is looking to develop further in Asia, the US and the UK.
Mr Cassidy said: “Where the company is going is towards retro brands like Bukta. We have the licence for that in Asia and are looking to the US too. In places like Japan, Korea and China they are crazy for these kinds of British brands with heritage.
“We are also looking at a number of retro brands that we believe we can breathe life into, especially British brands for the Asian and American markets.”
“We have the rights for Marilyn Monroe in the UK and Asia, which includes some of the classic images of her including all the promotional film pictures. This is a five year joint venture with the Monroe family, which is split 60/40 in their favour.”
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