Jill Scott announces Butterfly bra line @ Ashley Stewart

Here is the press release for the new line of bras designed by none other than the unstoppable Jill Scott:

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“THE BUTTERFLY” PERSONALLY INSPIRED AND DESIGNED BY JILL SCOTT DESIGNED NEW LINE INTIMATE APPAREL FOR PLUS-SIZE WOMAN – TO BE MARKETED EXCLUSIVELY ON LINE AT WWW.ASHLEYSTEWART.COM AND AT 220 ASHLEY STEWART STORE LOCATIONS

Association with Ashley Stewart stores began with non-traditional marketing of new album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, now RIAA Gold

Jill Scott’s first corporate venture recognizes her brand attraction to corporate America as new Urban entrepreneur

Charitable Blues Babe Foundation to benefit from association with Ashley Stewart stores, starting with renovation of Cecil B. Moore recreation center in North Philly

(January 14, 2008 – New York, NY) 2008 three time (3) Grammy nominee and Multi-platinum, two-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, singer-songwriter, poet, actor and philanthropist Jill Scott is stacked for success as she enters into an exclusive joint venture between her firm J Heather Inc. and Ashley Stewart Stores the nation wide specialty chain with 220 stores..

The initial product line developed in the partnership will be called “The Butterfly Collection By Jill Scott”, a new brand of intimate apparel for the plus-size woman. The entire clothing line be personally inspired and designed by Jill Scott, in conjunction with Ashley Stewart whose name and image will be utilized in all marketing and merchandising concepts.

The Butterfly bra, in particular, was created and inspired by Ms. Scott’s own needs as a consumer to create what she was unable to find, a design that is both comfortable and attractive for females who have a larger than average cup size. Times have changed since Wallace Reyburn wrote decades ago in Bust-Up (Macdonald & Co., 1971), the definitive history of the bra, that “the big-busted woman’s lot is not a happy one.”

Ms. Scott’s partnership with Ashley Stewart Stores began with the release of her latest album The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 in September 2007. Sold in all Ashley Stewart stores nationwide the partnership played a major role in the non-traditional marketing campaign behind the album, which has now reached RIAA gold for U.S. sales in excess of a half-million copies.


Based on Urban consumer reaction to The Real Thing, which was programmed in stores and given high visibility, Ms. Scott was inspired to go to the next step with Ashley Stewart. Consumers will soon encounter full-color window-sized posters of Ms. Scott in every store, as the introduction of the Butterfly line dovetails with ongoing promotion of The Real Thing, sponsorship for Jill’s US “The Real Thing” tour and support to Jill’s non profit Blues Babe Foundation which seeks to nurture college bound students of color, ages 16-21, artistically and academically.

“The partnership with a world renowned artist of Ms. Scott’s caliber is a special partnership for Ashley Stewart stores. We have always admired Jill’s commitment to her music and the integrity tied to the artistry of her body of work. We look forward to not only working with her on this product line but helping and enriching our communities by using the partnership to inspire others,” says Marla K. Minns – Executive Vice President and General Manager – Ashley Stewart Stores.

The ability to create economic opportunity out of actual need, not greed, is characteristic of Ms. Scott, whose Blues Babe Foundation will benefit from the association with Ashley Stewart Stores Community Foundation. This has already begun with the launch of the Cecil B. Moore recreation center in Ms. Scott’s hometown of North Philadelphia. Condemned to be closed by the city due to funding shortages, an initial donation of more than $100,000 by the Foundation was able to renovate the auditorium, bathrooms, floors, and swimming pool, and provide new outdoor basketball courts and a new kitchen. With the city’s help, the roof was repaired, the gym was renovated and the Center is now a safe haven for many kids, with attendance more than doubled for most programs.
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The line of bras will be at Ashley Stewart and will be called The Butterfly.