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Cool Brands Announces “A Star Is Born” Children’s Lifestyle Brand with Vanessa Hudgens

May 6, 2026  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

A Star Is Born enters the market as a lifestyle ecosystem for newborns through age eight, built to scale across both soft and hardlines offering accessible solutions for young parents. The brand addresses growing consumer demand for elevated, thoughtfully designed children’s products that serve both child and parent. With Vanessa’s more than 78 million social media followers globally, Hudgens brings built-in cultural relevance and direct access to a highly engaged millennial and Gen Z parent audience.

“Our goal for A Star Is Born is to make life easier for parents without sacrificing design or comfort,” said Hudgens. “Creating thoughtful products for young families like mine is a dream come true.”

Cool Brands is breaking the traditional celebrity-brand mold with A Star Is Born. Rather than a short-term capsule or endorsement-driven launch, the company built the platform from the ground up as a long-term, multi-category licensing venture, with Hudgens’ involvement in product development, drawing inspiration from her personal journey into motherhood.

“A Star Is Born embodies Cool Brands’ mission to build brands with naturally positive cachet in partnership with creative talent and best in class manufacturers,” said Ezra S. Ashkenazi, founder and CEO of Cool Brands, and a Principal and Founder of iHome Audio. “Over the past three decades, I’ve had the privilege of pioneering consumer and lifestyle brands and products across multiple categories. We are honored to partner with Vanessa, whose strong product intuition and warm, relatable spirit are reflected in the creative process, particularly during this meaningful chapter of her life as a mother.”

Centric Brands, a leading global lifestyle collective, will serve as the brand’s lead soft goods licensee producing apparel, soft footwear, bath accessories, and kid safe cosmetics. The engagement contains more than 90 distinct products across these categories, establishing a robust, multi-season and departmental product pipeline.

“With A Star Is Born, we’re merging Centric’s design expertise and retail reach to create something that feels both elevated and deeply personal within the baby and children’s space,” said Rob Smith, President, Kids at Centric Brands. “This brand is rooted in Vanessa’s sense of authenticity and joy—shaped by her experience as a new mom and her natural connection to a generation of modern, millennial parents. Together, we’re translating that point of view into a lifestyle that feels considered, effortless, and full of heart—celebrating the beauty in everyday moments.”

Jay Franco & Sons, a long-established home and bath company, will introduce bedding, bath, and home accessories, extending the brand into the home with more than 60 distinct products across these categories.

“A Star Is Born is a natural fit for us, as our approach has always catered to young families,” said Joe A. Franco, President, Jay Franco & Sons. “Jay Franco has built its reputation over more than eight decades on delivering quality products and designs that families trust. Our plan to introduce a comprehensive range across bedding, bath, and home, combined with Vanessa’s creative perspective, product vision, and highly engaged online audience, creates a compelling opportunity at retail.”

Cool Brands is in active discussions with additional leading partners across strollers/car seats and travel accessories, nursery furniture, feeding and mealtime, toys and developmental play, publishing, and health and wellness.

“Our objective is to thoughtfully build a trusted, one-stop family brand,” said Simon Douek, Principal at Cool Brands. “We are selectively engaging category leaders who share our commitment to premium quality, operational excellence and long-term brand building.”

Additional category announcements and retail partnerships are expected later this year.