Private Equity Firm Trilea Backs Tuleh

While Roberto Cavalli continues the struggle to find a private equity buyer with a predilection for animal prints and ormolu, fashion house Tuleh has sealed a deal with New York-based Trilea Partners. The two-year-old private equity firm announced yesterday that it has made a “significant investment” in Tuleh, founded in 1998 by designers Bryan Bradley (at right, after his fall 2008 show in Bryant Park) and Josh Patner. After Patner left Tuleh in 2002 for a career in fashion writing, Bradley blossomed, showing multifaceted collections known for their mix of uptown elegance, vibrant colors, and playful but luxurious details.