Jones Apparel Group, Inc. Signs License Agreement With Riviera Trading, Inc. for Jones New York Sunglasses

    NEW YORK, N.Y., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
 (NYSE:   JNY) today announced that it has signed an exclusive license agreement
 with Riviera Trading, Inc., which will manufacture and distribute women's and
 men's sunglasses under the Jones New York brand to department stores and
 specialty retailers who carry Jones New York apparel.  The collection,
 previously licensed to Lantis Eyewear Corporation under a license which
 expires on December 31, 2004, will be re-launched to the trade for Spring 2005
 in Riviera's showrooms.  Jones Apparel Group and Rem Eyewear entered into a
 separate license agreement for Jones New York optical eyewear which was
 re-launched to the optical trade in March, 2004.
     Peter Boneparth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jones Apparel
 Group, Inc., stated, "We are pleased to expand our existing relationship with
 Riviera by entering into a separate agreement for Jones New York sunglasses
 with high quality, modern classic sunglass designs to meet the lifestyle
 demands of our Jones New York Collection and Jones New York Signature
 customers."
     Orville Ankarlo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Riviera Trading,
 stated, "We are excited to enhance our licensing partnership with Jones
 Apparel Group to capitalize on the Jones New York sunglass opportunity.  Jones
 New York is a powerful modern classic brand which enjoys high credibility for
 fashion and affordability which we are perfectly positioned to deliver to this
 important customer segment."
     Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (http://www.jny.com), a Fortune 500 company, is
 a leading designer and marketer of branded apparel, footwear and accessories.
 The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Evan-
 Picone, Norton McNaughton, Gloria Vanderbilt, Erika, l.e.i., Energie, Nine
 West, Easy Spirit, Enzo Angiolini, Bandolino, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies,
 Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Kasper, Anne Klein, Albert Nipon and LeSuit.
 The Company also markets apparel under the Polo Jeans Company brand licensed
 from Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, costume jewelry under the Tommy Hilfiger
 brand licensed from Tommy Hilfiger Licensing, Inc. and the Givenchy brand
 licensed from Givenchy Corporation, and footwear and accessories under the
 ESPRIT brand licensed from Esprit Europe, B.V.  For more than 30 years, the
 Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value,
 and in operational execution.
 
     Certain statements herein are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant
 to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
 of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements represent the Company's expectations
 or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties,
 including the strength of the economy and the overall level of consumer
 spending, the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing
 retail environment, and other factors which are set forth in the Company's
 2003 Form 10-K and in all filings with the SEC made by the Company subsequent
 to the filing of the Form 10-K.  The Company does not undertake to publicly
 update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new
 information, future events or otherwise.
 
     Riviera Trading, Inc., New York, New York, is a leading marketer of
 sunglasses, hats, hair accessories and children's accessories under their own
 Riviera brand and the licensed Nine West, Nine & Co., l.e.i., Enzo Angiolini,
 Speedo and Ocean Pacific brands, with a reputation for quality and service.
 
 

SOURCE  Jones Apparel Group, Inc.