Riding the crisp coattails of the British drama’s international success, an official Downton Abbey clothing line and range of merchandise will soon be launched by Carnival Films.
If the hit British drama Downton Abbey has filled your head with nostalgia for frothy frocks and aristocratic accessories, your days of sartorial lust are coming to an end. Downton Abbey‘s executive producer Gareth Neame has announced that an official clothing line will soon be launched for the show, bringing high-quality Edwardian pieces into the 21st century. And there will be plenty else of interest to catch the eye of those already satisfied with their modern wardrobes.
“We’ll be working across an entire range of products coming out this year,” Neame said, adding that the Downton Abbey line will include, “homeware and furniture to wallpapers, beauty products and stationary.” (Hopefully Mary’s archaic curling iron will remain in the history books.)
Though a few select pieces of Downton Abbey memorabilia have already been made available, including an official soundtrack and books inspired by the series, until now the merchandise has been relatively limited. “More complex products take time,” Neame admitted, and stated that the show had only recently established the sustained popularity needed to appeal to merchandisers. The show’s recent success has been undeniable, however; wildly popular even outside of the U.K., the season 3 finale was viewed by a staggering 8.2 million people when it aired months later on PBS.
Downton Abbey is not the first television show to use its popularity for the good of the fashion world, as AMC’s Mad Men teamed with Banana Republic in 2011 to create a clothing line inspired by the sultry ’60s drama. So whether you are drawn to the post-’50s flair or the slouchy flapper look, the retro trend seems here to stay.
Downton Abbey fans will have more fashion and more drama to look forward to, as season 4 of the British series is currently in production. ITV will air season 4 in the U.K. in fall 2013, and PBS will follow with the episodes next January.
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