Also Launches Special Occasion Designer Brand Unforgettable Moments by Lela
Rose(TM) Early Next Year
TOPEKA, Kan., June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Payless ShoeSource and
fashion designer Lela Rose announced today that they have signed a new
multi-year agreement for Rose to continue to design her popular collection,
Lela Rose for Payless(TM), available exclusively at the footwear retailer.
To further expand the partnership and draw from Rose's 2007 launch of her
wedding collection, Payless and Rose have also agreed to Rose designing
Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose(TM), a special occasion collection
exclusively for Payless initially due out in early 2009.
Lela and Payless initiated their relationship in September 2006 to
launch the Lela Rose for Payless seasonal collection, a line of original
footwear and accessory designs created in conjunction with Lela Rose's
ready-to-wear clothing. Together, the footwear and clothing collections are
unveiled on the runway at Lela Rose's New York Fashion Week show. Payless
makes the designer collection available in stores and at payless.com for
under about $40 an item.
The new multi-year agreements include four seasonal Lela Rose for
Payless collections per year, as well as having Rose continue to design a
line of infant and toddler shoes under the brand name Teeny Toes(R) Lela
Rose Collection. Inspired by the birth of her daughter, Rosey Potter Jones,
the line was first launched as an infant-only collection in spring 2008.
The line will continue to be inspired by Rosey and, reflective of her
growth, it will expand to toddlers and also include "me too" styles that
mimic the shoes from the seasonal women's line.
Based on the tremendous positive consumer reaction and the first-time
shoppers that the Lela Rose designs have lured to Payless stores, this new
deal expands the partnership further into Rose designing a special occasion
dyeable line of shoes under the label Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose.
This new collection will include several core classic styles, as well as
refreshed seasonal silhouettes featuring the latest trend details, which
can be dyed in 64 colors hand-picked by the designer.
"Lela is a tremendous design talent with a truly unique view of
American fashion. Her shoe designs are amazing with a strong focus on
utilizing unconventional fabrics and colors paired with the right
silhouette and design details to make a $30 pair of shoes look like they
are $300," said Matthew Rubel, chief executive officer of Payless
ShoeSource. "We are thrilled to extend our relationship with Lela Rose, and
to expand into an infant and toddler line, as well as a special occasion
line. Payless Guest Designers like Lela are a powerful element in our
mission to democratize fashion in footwear -- through this partnership we
are able to bring Lela Rose designs to shoppers nationwide so that more and
more women, and little girls, can have access to her incredible sense of
style and taste."
Rose will draw her inspiration for the Unforgettable Moments by Lela
Rose special occasion line from her wedding collection designs, which have
been featured in a variety of high-end magazines such as New York Weddings,
Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Weddings, The Knot and Town and Country
Weddings. Moreover, Lela Rose outfitted the house-party members for Jenna
Bush's wedding in May, including maid-of-honor Barbara Bush.
"It has been absolutely amazing to work with Payless. They have given
me the opportunity to translate my collections into shoes and accessories
that are not only fashionable and designer-looking, but more importantly,
available to every woman," said Lela Rose. "Nearly every woman I know has a
closet with a range of items to mix and match inexpensive with expensive.
My line at Payless fits right into that high-low idea."
About Payless Designer Collections
Lela Rose, Laura Poretzky, Stacey Bendet and Patricia Field are Payless
Guest Designers -- select fashion designers and stylists that create
designer footwear and accessory collections featuring the latest runway
looks, which Payless brings to its stores at affordable prices. Each
collection is unique and reflective of the designer's signature style:
Rose's strong focus on "classic with a twist"; Poretzky's "American
international," drawing from her rich international experiences living in
Brazil, France and New York; Bendet's "contemporary retro," and style icon
Patricia Field's with her award-winning design aesthetic. The Payless Guest
Designer program is a key strategy in Payless' overall mission to
democratize fashion in footwear and accessories. For more information about
Payless at New York Fashion Week and the company's Guest Designers, please
see http://www.paylessontherunway.com.
About Lela Rose
Lela Rose is a Texas native and 1993 graduate of the Parson's School of
Design. She worked at Christian Francis Roth as Design Assistant and soon
after with Richard Tyler as Design Assistant and Fabric Buyer. In 1998,
Rose's vision and passion compelled her to create her signature
ready-to-wear collection, Lela Rose, with studio headquarters in New York
City. Through intricately designed and finely detailed separates, dresses
and jackets, Rose has established herself as a renowned designer. In 2007,
Rose launched a wedding collection focused on pairing unconventional
fabrics and techniques -- a trademark of the designer. Rose is rounding out
her offering with the designer footwear and accessory collection, Lela Rose
for Payless.
About Payless
Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a unit of Collective Brands, Inc., is the
largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere and is
dedicated to democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories
and inspiring fun, fashion possibilities for the family at a great value.
As of the end of fiscal year 2007, the company operated more than 4,500
stores. In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet through
Payless.com(R) at http://www.payless.com.
Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling
lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related
accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic
units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points
and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing.
Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on
democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its
more than 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands American Eagle(TM),
Airwalk(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R) and designer collections Abaete for
Payless, Lela Rose for Payless and alice + olivia for Payless, among
others; Stride Rite, focused on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and
high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with
its brands including Stride Rite(R), Keds(R), Sperry Top-Sider(R),
Robeez(R), and Saucony(R), among others; and Collective Licensing
International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit,
with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk(R), Vision Street Wear(R),
Lamar(R), Sims(R), LTD(R), genetic(R), Dukes(TM), Rage(R), Ultra-Wheels(R),
and Skate Attack(R). Information about, and links for shopping on, each of
the Collective Brand's units can be found at
http://www.collectivebrands.com.
SOURCE Payless ShoeSource, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.payless.com
http://www.paylessontherunway.com
CONTACT:
media, Mardi Larson, +1-612-928-0202; or
Sidney Prawatyotin of Lela Rose Media, +1-212-925-7200
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