NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bloomingdale’s is celebrating the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) 64th NBA All-Star Game in a big way with 16 basketball-inspired shops filled with NBA team and All-Star merchandise, one-on-one style videos with star shooting guard James Harden, a unique partnership with GQ, and an auction benefiting Mentoring USA to win the ultimate All-Star Game weekend in New York City.
"Bloomingdale’s is thrilled to infuse the excitement of the NBA All-Star Game in-stores and online through a variety of ways,” said Frank Berman, Bloomingdale's executive vice president of marketing. “We saw the opportunity to tap into the basketball community’s love for fashion with our own through close collaborations, merchandise, visual displays, and special events, to celebrate this iconic event with fans and shoppers while supporting Mentoring USA.”
Sharp shooter essentials in-store and on bloomingdales.com/nba
Debuting in early January, pop-up shops at select Bloomingdale’s locations, and on bloomingdales.com/nba, will be headquarters for NBA basketball fans, featuring retro-era jerseys, vintage graphic tees and luxe accessories that celebrate the love of basketball and style. Shoppers can fashion their fandom with merchandise from brands such as Mitchell & Ness, Sportiqe, Junk Food, Been Trill, Mark McNairy, Stance, and more. From an exclusive selection of New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets Varsity jackets to the softest vintage-inspired team tees and headwear, Bloomingdale’s will be the go-to destination for improving your fashion game.
"We are thrilled about our partnership with Bloomingdale’s, a premiere retail destination," said Chris Brennan, NBA Senior Vice President of Global Retail Development. "Having a presence in both Bloomingdale's stores and online is a unique and exciting way to celebrate this year's NBA All-Star Game and connect with new and existing style-centric fans."
Essentials for NBA All-Star 2015 can be found at the following Bloomingdale’s locations and on bloomingdales.com/nba from now until game time on Feb. 15 – 59th Street and SoHo in New York City, Aventura, Bergen Shops at Riverside, Beverly Center, Bridgewater Commons, Chestnut Hill, Glendale, Huntington Walt Whitman, King of Prussia, Lenox Square, North Michigan Avenue, Roosevelt Field, Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, The Falls in Miami, and Willowbrook.
Off-the-court style
In a special partnership between Bloomingdale’s and GQ, there will be a series of three videos starring fashion-forward Houston Rockets player James Harden, all of which are inspired by “The Walk,” the style moment between the locker room and team bus for players to showcase their off-the-court sartorial swagger. In the videos, GQ’s executive stylist, Publishing Brett Fahlgren goes one-on-one with Harden on everything from how to get the NBA look to dressing for specific body types. Harden dives deep while sporting tailored clothing and slick accessories from brands like Freemans Sporting Club, Hamilton, Turnbull & Asser, Montblanc and Salvatore Ferragamo, all available at Bloomingdale’s. Shop the merchandise and catch the videos on the special sitelet at bloomingdales.com/nba launched on Jan. 8.
“Basketball has always been a game of style,” said Kevin Harter, Bloomingdale’s vice president of men’s fashion direction. “NBA players have become sartorial leaders, and for men interested in dressing well, a go-to source for inspiration.”
All-Star auction to benefit Mentoring USA
Enthusiasts are being offered the chance to bid on a Jam-Packed Trip to NBA All-Star 2015 in New York City including a dunk-tastic VIP weekend, a Bloomingdale’s shopping spree, and more. 100% of the net proceeds will benefit Mentoring USA, whose mission is to create sustained and supportive mentor relationships for youths in need ages 7–21. A long-time supporter for 17 years, Bloomingdale’s has celebrated and supported Mentoring USA’s mission and work with the leaders of tomorrow as the largest group of mentors across the country. Fans are invited to bid at bloomingdales.com/auction.
The winning bidder will have access to the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at Barclays Center on Feb. 13, all the events at State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 14 and two premium tickets to the 64th NBA All-Star Game including a VIP tour of Madison Square Garden on Feb. 15. Plus, two tickets to practice sessions for both conference NBA All-Star teams, a VIP tour of Barclays Center, an NBA All-Star signed basketball and a meet-and-greet with an NBA star or Legend. Continuing with the special treatment, an invite to a fashionable after-party hosted by a premier player in the All-Star Game. All of this will be topped off in style with winnings of $500-worth of NBA All-Star merchandise and a $2,500 Bloomingdale’s shopping spree, which includes a session with a Freemans Sporting Club tailor to create a dapper bespoke suit.
Additional 3-pointer fun
The momentum continues while fans and shoppers cheer on the NBA All Star Game’s presence in Bloomingdales’ hometown of New York City when interactive vignettes filled with NBA and All-Star merchandise are revealed in the flagship’s Lexington Avenue windows on Jan. 19.
After learning all about Harden’s personal style virtually, fans are invited to Bloomingdale’s 59th Street on Feb. 12 for a fashion-filled warm up event hosted by the main man himself and GQ.
Harden will also be featured in an exclusive interview in the Bloomingdale’s NBA lookbook and sitelet talking hoops, athleisure, inspiration, and more.
Additionally, from Jan. 15 – 29, Bloomingdale’s loyallists can fittingly earn triple points on all licensed NBA and All-Star merchandise.
To get the latest play-by-play, be sure to follow @bloomingdales on social media where you can join the conversation.
Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store and a division of Macy's, Inc. It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 34 Bloomingdale’s stores and 13 Bloomingdale’s, The Outlet Stores in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, New Hampshire, California, and Texas. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with a location in Dubai. Be sure to follow @bloomingdales on social media, become a Loyallist, and for more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com.
NBA All-Star 2015 in New York City will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. The 64th NBA All-Star Game, which will take place Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden, will reach fans in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for the 13th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 30th year of All-Star coverage, as well as the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 13 and State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 14, which will both take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Other events at Barclays Center include the NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire and the NBA Development League Dream Factory presented by Boost Mobile on Sunday, Feb. 15, airing on NBA TV. Madison Square Garden will host Friday night’s ESPN-televised Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
GQ is the leading men’s general-interest magazine, with a monthly readership of 7 million readers. It is available in print, online at GQ.com, and as an app at iTunes.com. The magazine is published by Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications. Condé Nast operates in twenty-five countries and is the world leader in exceptional content creation.
Mentoring USA is a leading national provider of one-to-one site-based mentoring programs to enable young people to achieve their potential. Mentoring USA works with children from elementary school to youth aging out of the foster care system (ages 7-21) to help them make positive life choices, bridge the achievement gap and combat school dropout through the support of caring, trained adult mentors. The curriculum includes healthy lifestyles/nutrition, BRAVE (which includes anti-violence, diversity appreciation and anti-bullying components), financial literacy and entrepreneurship initiatives, career development and other programs. Mentoring USA's programs have a proven track record of success-99% of the students in Mentoring USA's school-based and community-based mentoring programs have consistently moved on to the next grade level. Mentoring USA also provides international mentoring programs through Mentoring Italia and Mentoring Espana.
