Duo Behind St. John Knits Returns With New Fashion Line

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The mother and daughter duo behind the St. John Knits fashion line is back.

The St. John clothing line, started in 1962 by Marie Gray and her husband, featured elaborate backgrounds in fashion magazine ads, and it grew into a $500 million company. The Grays parted way with the company when new owners took over in 2006.

Now, Marie Gray and her daughter Kelly, the former face and CEO of St. John Knits, have teamed up again to establish a new fashion line.

"We started to create some things," Marie said. "Not anything that was similar to St. John, but it was more simplified."

The new line, called Grayse, hit racks at select Bloomingdale and Neiman Marcus stores this year and features a different look from their previous work. The line is also available online.

"Grayse is elegant and sexy, and it conveys a mood of, maybe, cheerful and whimsical," Kelly said.

The signature item featured in the line is the Laser-cut leather jacket.

Kelly and Marie, who do the designing for Grayse, say they have an appreciation for being able to work together.

"Today, I have such an appreciation for getting to work with my mom. I didn't know what a privilege it was when I had it," Kelly said. "Now, to return to that, it's just such a pleasure."