Bulldog Licensing has inked a new deal that will see Misirli produce a range of socks featuring legendary cartoon cat Garfield.

Garfield is an instantly recognisable figure thanks to the cartoon strip that was first introduced in 1978 and is now featured in over 2100 newspapers across the globe, holding the Guinness World Record for the most syndicated cartoon strip as a result. Garfield books have sold over 200 million copies to date and the character has spawned two animated television series, two feature-length live-action films, and three CGI animated movies – as well as thousands of lines of licensed merchandise. The cartoon strip appears every day in the Daily Mail, the UK’s second most popular newspaper, and ‘The Garfield Show’ cartoon is one of the top-rating shows on digital channel Boomerang.

The new agreement will also see Misirli produce Garfield-branded slipper socks and children’s nightwear.

This adds to Garfield’s major presence in the UK licensing sector. Other partners include Sambro (bags and stationery), Ravette (publishing), J Fox (accessories), and SNI Optometric (eyewear). Garfield apparel is also a major seller on the high street through lines from Blues, Poetic Gem and BCI.

”Both kids and adults love Garfield, which makes the brand highly versatile and profitable,” says Bulldog Licensing MD Rob Corney. ”This cross-generational appeal has allowed us to build a very strong programme, which I’m sure will continue to expand.”