Jeff Linville
REDMOND, Wash. — Apparel company Eddie Bauer is exploring strategic options and may be sold, but Lane Home Furnishings is confident it will keep the Bauer furniture license.

Catalog retailer Spiegel owned Eddie Bauer but filed for bankruptcy in 2003. That same year, Lane had a big hit with a revamped Eddie Bauer furniture group, and the product has remained a strong seller.

Eddie Bauer emerged from the Spiegel bankruptcy as a standalone company in 2012. It operates about 380 specialty clothing stores in the United States and Canada. It becomes the latest apparel design and retail company to consider a sale; Tommy Hilfiger was sold earlier this year and Jones Apparel Group announced it was for sale in March.

Ray Allori, Lane’s vice president of merchandising and advertising, said Eddie Bauer representatives told Lane last month about the possible sale. Both parties have been happy with the licensing agreement and believe it will continue under any new owner, he said.

The agreement includes a clause that would allow a new owner to opt out, but the royalties from licensing are considered a selling point of the business.