UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT Pursuant

to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

XCEL BRANDS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(347) 727-2474

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

On March 27, 2013, pursuant to a resolution (the “Consent”) of the Compensation Committee of Xcel Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), the Company granted to the following executive officers and directors (the “Executive Grantees”) of the Company the number of shares of restricted Common Stock of the Company (the “Restricted Stock”) set forth opposite each person’s name:

The grant date for the Restricted Stock Awards is April 1, 2013. The vesting date of the Restricted Stock granted to Mr. D’Loren, Mr. Haran, Mr. Burroughs and Ms. Gardini is September 30, 2013, provided, however, that each such Executive Grantee may extend the vesting date one or more times, as to all or a portion of the shares, by six-month increments in his or her sole discretion. The Restricted Stock granted to Mr. Falco vests as to 50% of the shares on each of March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, provided, however, that Mr. Falco may extend each vesting date one or more times, as to all or a portion of the shares, by six-month increments in his sole discretion.

The grants by the Company of Restricted Stock were made pursuant to the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and as such, no consideration was paid therefor by either the Executive Grantees. Each grant of Restricted Stock was made pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award Agreement in each case entered into by and between the Company and the respective grantee.

None of the issuances referenced above were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and all of the issuances referenced above qualified for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act because the Company’s issuance of the Restricted Stock and the Options did not involve a public offering. The offering was not a “public offering” as defined in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act due to the insubstantial number of persons involved, size of the offering, manner of the offering and number of securities offered. The Company did not undertake an offering in which it sold a high number of securities to a high number of investors. In addition, the Executive Grantees had the necessary investment intent as required by Section 4(2) because each of them agreed to and received share certificates bearing a legend stating that such securities are restricted pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act. This restriction ensures that these securities would not be immediately redistributed into the market and therefore not be part of a “public offering.” Based on an analysis of the above factors, the Company has met the requirements to qualify for exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for this transaction.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: April 1, 2013