Ted Baker has ended its childrenswear partnership with Debenhams, and has taken the decision to move to Next, it has been confirmed.
The fashion brand has now signed a major five-year deal with Next, who will "create and sell" Ted Baker clothes for kids, toddlers and babies.
Next will begin to stock its first Ted Baker kidswear collection in spring 2020, and it will include branded clothing, shoes and accessories.
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This won't mean the end for Ted Baker's relationship with Debenhams, though, as the high-street department store will continue to sell TB lingerie and nightwear.
In a statement about the switch, Simon Wolfson, Chief Executive for Next, said: "We have worked with Ted Baker for a number of years through Label and recognise the power of their brand."
Ted Baker's Chief Executive, Lindsay Page, added: "Product licensing is a proven and highly successful pillar of Ted Baker’s strategy to expand as a global lifestyle brand. It enables us to carefully develop the brand in new, relevant categories by leveraging the specialist product expertise of our carefully selected partners.
"Our childrenswear collections - which are small in size but big in style - have already proven incredibly popular with Ted Baker customers."
The news comes months after Debenhams, which is owned by Sports Direct, announced plans to shut 22 stores.
Store closings are set to begin next year, and it is thought that up to 1,200 staff could be affected by the first phase.
Altrincham's branch is one of those which are set to be closed in phase one, and has been cited as one of the worst-perfoming stores in the UK.
In a statement about the closures, Terry Duddy, Executive Chairman for Debenhams said: "The issues facing the UK high street are very well known. Debenhams has a clear strategy and a bright future but in order for the business to prosper, we need to restructure the group’s store portfolio and its balance sheet, which are not appropriate for today’s much-changed retail environment.
"Our priority is to save as many stores and as many jobs as we can, while making the business fit for the future."
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