Reese Witherspoon Sells Her Fashion Brand, Draper James

Private equity group Consortium Brand Partners has announced its acquisition of a majority stake in actress Reese Witherspoon’s fashion and lifestyle brand, Draper James.

Under the terms of the deal, Consortium Brand Partners secured a 70% stake in Draper James, while Reese Witherspoon retains her position as a partner and board member within the company.

Founded by the Oscar-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur in 2015, Draper James initially operated as a direct-to-consumer brand, offering clothing featuring bright colours, bold prints, accessories, and home goods, all inspired by Witherspoon’s Southern heritage.

As the brand expanded, it ventured into brick-and-mortar retail, opening three physical locations. In 2022, Draper James forged an exclusive partnership with Kohl’s, making its products available nationwide and on kohls.com.

Following the acquisition, Consortium Brand Partners confirmed that Draper James products will continue to be available online through the brand’s website, its existing retail stores, and at Kohl’s.

Looking ahead, the private equity group revealed plans to extend the Draper James merchandise line into various sectors, including the big box home improvement space, department stores, pet store chains, and international markets.

Reese Witherspoon expressed her excitement about the partnership, emphasizing Draper James’s mission to bring Southern joy into people’s homes and wardrobes. She stated, “We are excited to join forces with the team at Consortium, who understand our vision as a company and the importance of our community.”

This acquisition comes two years after Reese Witherspoon’s sale of her media company, Hello Sunshine, in 2021, for over $900 million to a media entity backed by the private equity firm Blackstone. Hello Sunshine was responsible for several of the actress’s notable TV projects, including “Big Little Lies,” “Little Fires Everywhere,” and “The Morning Show,” as well as Reese’s Book Club. Witherspoon initially co-launched the company in 2016 in partnership with AT&T.