Nordstrom to start selling women's J. Crew merchandise

J. Crew's vibrant collection of womenswear will soon be available inside department store chain Nordstrom, as the struggling apparel brand looks for ways to get customers spending again.

Starting Sept. 12, select items of women's clothing and accessories can be purchased in 16 Nordstrom locations and online, including J. Crew cashmere, blazers and outerwear.

The latest distribution agreement could mark an opportunity for J. Crew to extend its reach at a time when business is shaky. While the Madewell brand has been on fire, J. Crew's namesake has been struggling for several years — sales at established locations fell 8% in the most recent quarter, compared to a 10% drop in the same quarter last year.

A partnership with Nordstrom aligns with the company's customer service strategy and emphasis on "exceptional design, quality and style, which we know will appeal to the Nordstrom customer," J. Crew CEO Millard Drexler said in a statement.

J. Crew sells some merchandise through other online retailers such as Net A Porter and in select stores abroad, but this is the first time its clothing will be available in the U.S. in a physical store other than its own.

For Nordstrom, which hasn't been immune to the sales slump department stores have been going through, the partnership falls in line with a longterm strategy to offer exclusive distribution of products, Co-President Pete Nordstrom said in a statement.

Nordstrom also has partnerships to sell items from Madewell, a younger, hipper brand owned by J. Crew Group, and trendy fast-fashion brand Topshop.