Urban&Co, a home-grown brand that set up shop in the United States in 1998, is back - under a different label and minus one of the designers.

Renamed Urbaninc, it debuts at Isetan Scotts on Monday, Tangs VivoCity on April 1 and Takashimaya Department Store on May 1.

Designer Rachel Koh, who founded Urban&Co in 1995 with her ex-husband Victor Tan, is making a comeback after the couple divorced in 2004.

The label was known for its sexy, body-hugging designs and had 22 stores in its heyday, including one each in Los Angeles and Santa Monica and 14 in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The six outlets here closed in 2005 following the couple's split. The 16 overseas branches are being wound down.

But the 41-year-old Koh, who is now sole owner of the brand, is smiling.

She has come up with a 60-piece collection of women's workwear such as shirt dresses, high-waisted A-line skirts and double-cuff shirts made from European and Japanese fabrics that can take urbanistas from day to night. Prices range from $49 for a top to $129 for a dress.

'Urban&Co was casual and in-your-face sexy while Urbaninc specialises in trendy workwear, which I feel is lacking in the market,' she says.

'In fact, I incorporated the word 'inc' into the new name of my label to represent this association with the professional world.'

There is also a range of accessories including belts, shawls, corsages, hairbands and hats that starts from $15.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Mar 13, 2008.