Brand Smart takes a broader look at brands. It covers events and products beyond eyewear that affect the brand's consumer awareness and overall cachet. This month, Tommy takes on Lagerfeld, Tag Heuer intros well-timed ads and Nike courts teens.

Tommy Hilfiger expands its fashion empire with the acquisition of the trademarks of Karl Lagerfeld, which include Lagerfeld Galleries and other Lagerfeld collections. Lagerfeld will continue to design and provide creative direction for the brands. Hilfiger plans to grow the brands and offer them worldwide…Girls who are sweet on Candie’s will have to look to Kohl’s beginning this fall. Under a long-term agreement, the department store is the exclusive provider of Candie’s juniors’ and girls’ apparel. Both Candie’s footwear and handbags will continue to be distributed through a variety of specialty and department stores through the end of 2006. Beginning January 2007, the Candie’s brand in its entirety will be available exclusively at Kohl’s…

Giorgio Armani celebrates 30 years of fashion with a new portfolio of images of actress Michelle Pfeiffer photographed in his signature women’s collection for Spring/Summer 2005. The pictures were taken by Mario Testino in Los Angeles and will appear in exclusive editorial stories, which complements the designers Spring/Summer advertising campaign…

Ecko Unltd. channels Alfred Hitchcocks in its Spring 2005 “Motel Paradise” ad campaign. Shot in New York by Roberto D’Este, the campaign features Fat Joe, The RZA, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, DMC of Run DMC and a host of others…Adding star power it its own ads, Tag Heuer features Uma Thurman, Maria Sharapova, Jeff Gordon and Tiger Woods in its spring campaign. The ads, entitled “What are you made of,” were shot by Patrick Demarchelier…British apparel label Ted Baker sponsored the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo. and offered a custom-designed T-shirt to support The Silver Lining Foundation, a charity that develops recreational events for children with cancer…Nike courts teens with its new Maddie collection, which has been developed with retailer Finish Line. The collection is in stores now and features brightly colored apparel, footwear and accessories. The sportswear brand is also offering a fitness dance apparel collection, which was inspired by the growing interest in dance classes at gyms and fitness clubs…SpongeBob keeps soaking up the accolades; the yellow invertebrate won an Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production from the International Animated Film Society…Lulu Guinness has especially designed a handbag fashioned after an optical boutique. The black, patent leather bag is hand-crafted from canvas using colorful embroidery and appliqués to bring the optical boutique to life. It is exclusively available from Tura and Lulu Guinness boutiques in Los Angeles and SoHo…

Liz Claiborne celebrates spring with a new fragrance called Liz. The light floral scent is designed to appeal to the brand’s target consumer the independent, energetic woman.