Oakley Releases New Global Collection

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakley, Inc. today announced the release of a new Global Collection of products designed to honor Oakley's global team of athletes participating in the Winter Olympics. As part of this rare array, a special edition sunglass and snow goggle carry custom Oakley art to salute the nations that will send their best to Canada in February 2010. Apparel designs and accessories in the collection are accented with graphics that recognize the heritage of the hosting province, and a limited edition timepiece is part of the unparalleled line of collectibles.

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"This special collection pays tribute to an event that unites the world in the fellowship of athletic competition," said Oakley CEO Colin Baden. "Many athletes in Vancouver will rely on Oakley innovations as they strive for Gold, and the new Global Collection will fuel the excitement and shared pride of watching these athletes exceed all limits. Oakley art turns these special editions into keepsakes and collectibles, mementos that let fans carry the memories of this thrilling chapter in sports history," Baden concluded.

The collection includes a uniquely rendered edition of Oakley's popular Crowbar® goggle. The new Global Crowbar Snow Goggle features bold graphics that depict flags of nations. It comes with a matching Microclear® bag for lens cleaning and goggle storage, as well as a strap patch that combines the company icon with a national flag in one of 11 optional country designs: Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. With its moisture-wicking comfort and superior protection against impact and UV, Crowbar Snow is the choice of world-class athletes. (Please note that this special edition goggle will be distributed in a limited release of only 400 units. It is not available via Oakley.com but can be purchased at Oakley stores and other select retail locations now.)

The eyewear rendition in the new collection, Oakley's Global Fuel Cell is highlighted with a flags-of-nations motif in the letters of the company logo. The sunglass comes with a matching Microclear bag for lens cleaning and frame storage. Oakley Fuel Cell is a streetwise design, a look of authenticity with confident contours of comfortably lightweight O Matter® frame material. This edition features the glare-cutting performance of Oakley HDPolarized lenses with the clarity and protection of High Definition Optics® (HDO®). (This special edition eyewear is available at Oakley stores and via Oakley.com now.)

In addition to graphical expressions of the flags-of-nations motif that honors our global team of athletes, the new Oakley Global Apparel Collection features a Canadian Maple Leaf and stylized totem art. The original Oakley design salutes the country and province hosting the games, and pays tribute to its history and heritage. Hoodies and tees for men and women comprise the collection. (These apparel items are available at Oakley stores and via Oakley.com now.)

Accessories in the Global Collection include caps, a beanie, a backpack and an umbrella, as well as a commemorative pin. Each of these carries totem graphics that signify it as a collectible edition. A serialized allotment of the company's Warrant™ timepiece has been styled with the totem motif, and just 100 units will be available. (Please note that the special edition timepiece is available only in Canada, and was released in December 2009. The accessories are available at Oakley stores and via Oakley.com now.)

For items in the Oakley Global Collection that will be available online, visit Oakley.com for more information.

About Oakley, Inc.

Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading sports brands in the world. The holder of more than 600 patents, Oakley is continually seeking problems, solving them with inventions and wrapping those inventions in art. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with innovations that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is famed for its insuperable lens technologies such as High Definition Optics® (HDO®) which is incorporated into all Oakley sun and prescription eyewear, and goggles. Oakley has extended its leadership position as the world's leading sports eyewear brand into apparel, footwear and accessories collections. Laser focused on the consumer, Oakley has both men's and women's product lines that target Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX; MTA: LUX). Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.

SOURCE Oakley, Inc.