• by Sara Guaglione , June 2, 2017

Known for featuring photo spreads of female models and athletes in swimsuits, Sports Illustrated Swimsuitis partnering with swimwear design house RAJ Swim to create its own swim and active apparel collections.

The alliance marks the first global apparel license for the Time Inc. brand.

To coincide with the launch of the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, the collection will be available in early 2018, with a first look scheduled for this summer. The issue usually hits newsstands around February. Select items from the collection will be featured in the magazine.

Bruce Gersh, SVP, strategy and business development at Time Inc., stated: “The opportunity to expand the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit brand into the premium apparel space is a perfect fit. It falls in line with our strategy to unlock new consumer programs leveraging Time Inc. brands.”

The first look at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit collection will be announced this summer. Items from the collection will also be featured on Sports Illustrated’s digital properties, including an ecommerce integration on SI.com.

The company says the multiyear agreement will span across “a range of collections,” which will be “designed to reach all generations, body types and personalities.”

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine says it reaches more than 70 million US adults each year. This year’s issue featured model Kate Upton on the cover.

Brand extensions are fast becoming a way to expand a magazine’s business beyond its editorial. In April, Real Simple, another Time Inc. brand, created an accessories collection in partnership with fashion accessories company Halle Joy. This fall, it will expand to produce a line of handbags and wearable technology.