CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) - The S. Schwab Company Inc. said it has sold its Little Me line of children's clothing to Mamiye Brothers Inc., of New York, for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will result in the shutdown of Schwab's Little Me wholesale operations in Cumberland by Oct. 31, the company said in a statement Monday. It wasn't clear how many workers will lose their jobs, but Mamiye is under no obligation to keep them, Schwab said.
Schwab employs 116 people in Cumberland and 375 worldwide, according to the Allegany County Department of Economic Development.
Family-owned Schwab also said it will close its 37 Little Me outlet and specialty stores.
Officials of Cumberland-based Schwab didn't return telephone calls Tuesday from The Associated Press.
Mamiye Brothers is a privately held children's wholesale apparel firm. The company owns Flapdoodles and is the licensee for Guess Kids, Disney, Hello Kitty and other brands. Established in 1947, it designs, manufactures and markets clothing for infants, girls, boys, juniors and young men.
Little Me clothing, designed for babies and young toddlers, is sold through better department stores and specialty stores besides Little Me stores.
'Mamiye Brothers is an outstanding company,' said Sam Schwab, chief executive of Schwab. 'They are committed to the Little Me brand. We are confident that they will manage it skillfully and make Little Me a key aspect of the growth of their company.'
Schwab stopped manufacturing clothing in Cumberland in 2000.
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