Vera Wang Announces Licensing Agreement With Brown Shoe Under Lavender Label

NEW YORK (July 29th, 2008) - Vera Wang announced today that the company has entered into a three-year licensing agreement with Brown Shoe for the manufacture and distribution of contemporary shoes for the Vera Wang Lavender Label Collection.

Signing its second Lavender Label license in less than 6 months, the Vera Wang Group continues to grow upon the successful apparel platform. Lavender Label apparel, which is distributed in over 450 doors globally, has grown by 60% in the last 12 months. Since its launch in 2005, the label has become known for its playful, carefree style and irreverent sense of color, composition, pattern and proportion.

Launching in 2009, the Vera Wang Lavender Label shoe collection will include a complete lifestyle collection aimed at the contemporary customer and will include, ballerinas, espadrilles, sandals, clogs, pumps and boots. The collection will have an aesthetic similar to the Lavender Label apparel collection - a fun, whimsical and youthful spirit.

“In terms of fashion licensing,” says Susan Sokol, President of Vera Wang Apparel, “we believe that shoes are a critical component to complement the Lavender Label apparel – and this important category will fuel continued growth for the brand. We are looking forward to working with Brown Shoe and their talented team. Their expertise and resources will be key to ensuring the success of our launch."

Retail pricing of the collection will range from $195 to $695, and distribution will be targeted to that of Lavender Label apparel, including Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom’s as well as top-tier department and specialty stores throughout the world; including Harvey Nichol’s, Lane Crawford, Joyce Stores and Tsum department store in Moscow.

"Brown Shoe is excited to partner with Vera Wang to extend her artistic fashion influence to a footwear line for the contemporary consumer," said Brown Shoe President and Chief Operating Officer Diane Sullivan. "We have been steadily enhancing our Brown New York design studio and building a dedicated team to support the growth of Lavender Label footwear, which extends the reach of our portfolio into the lives of a new group of consumers.”


About Brown Shoe:
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. is a $2.4 billion footwear company with global operations. The company maintains design studios and sourcing operations in New York, Italy, Brazil and the Far East. Through its wholesale divisions, Brown Shoe markets brand name, private label and licensed footwear to department stores, independent and specialty retailers and national chains. In 2005, Brown Shoe acquired Bennett Footwear and added the Via Spiga brand to its existing portfolio. Brown Shoe operates more than 1,400 retail stores in the U.S. and sells its brands in more than 40 countries around the world.

For more information on Brown Shoe Company Inc., please visit the company’s website at www.brownshoe.com

About Vera Wang:
Vera Wang Group designs, markets and distributes collections of women’s ready-to-wear, Lavender Label, bridal and maids apparel as well as Vera Wang Fine Linens under the Vera Wang name. Vera Wang Licensing LLC, the licensing division of the company, has selectively granted licenses for the manufacture and distribution of fragrance and beauty-related products (Coty Prestige, Inc.), eyewear (Couteur Designs, a division of the Kenmark Group), china, crystal, silver and gifts (Wedgwood), Vera Wang suite (Halekulani Hotel), fine papers (William Arthur), mattresses (Serta Mattress Company) and Lavender Label handbags (Accessory Network). In addition, Vera Wang on Weddings was published by Harper Collins in 2001. In 2007, the company partnered with Kohl’s to launch Simply Vera Wang. In 2008, verawangonweddings.com launched as the premier wedding resource and ecommerce destination.

For more information on Vera Wang, please visit the company’s website at www.verawang.com