The Jessica Simpson Collection Broadens Lifestyle Fashion Offering To Include Jeanswear

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNY) ("Jones") and Camuto Group today announced that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to design, develop, produce and distribute Jessica Simpson Jeanswear under the Jessica Simpson Collection.

The Jessica Simpson Collection exemplifies Americana of today. The vision of the collection is to be iconic yet fashion forward; always accessible yet timeless. This total lifestyle brand offers consumers stylish, contemporary products in twenty categories, and is available in over 3000 doors nationwide. The denim-inspired apparel line, which will include jeanswear as well as woven and knit tops, will be available in 700 doors for Fall 2010. Jeans will wholesale from $20.00 to $24.00 and tops will wholesale from $9.00 to $20.00.

Vince Camuto, Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Camuto Group, said, "The launch of Jessica Simpson Jeanswear is the exciting next phase in creating a complete lifestyle brand; it represents a significant market opportunity and may be the largest category in our portfolio of licensed products. We are thrilled to be working with Jones Apparel Group on this venture as this partnership brings together two best in class companies."

Jack Gross, Chief Executive Officer of Jones Jeanswear, said, "We are excited about this opportunity to partner with Camuto Group to add jeanswear to the Jessica Simpson Collection's lifestyle product offering and help bring Jessica's vision of American femininity to life. This is an outstanding partnership for Jones Jeanswear, as it leverages our core competencies and expertise in jeanswear design and development. This is a great opportunity to be involved in the growth of a strong, successful brand."

The launch of Jessica Simpson Jeanswear will be supported by a feature in Women's Wear Daily, through online and social networking support, as well as personal appearances, shop-in-shops featuring Jeanswear signage, charity promotions benefiting the Armed Forces Children's Education Fund (AFCEF) and much more.

About Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jonesapparel.com) is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores and through its e-commerce web sites. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, women's footwear under the Dockers® and Dockers® Women brands and infants', toddlers' and boys footwear (excluding girls footwear) under the Dockers® and Dockers® Premium brands, licensed from Levi Strauss & Co., and apparel under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i. and Evan-Picone, with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

About Camuto Group

The Camuto Group is a leading organization for design, development and distribution of women's fashion footwear and is renowned for its ability to build women's lifestyle brands on a global scale.  Camuto Group products are sold in over 5400 doors worldwide.  The Camuto Group is the owner of the Vince Camuto and Arturo Chiang brands and is the master licensee for the Jessica Simpson Collection.  The company also develops and manages several exclusive brands for Dillard's, and holds the footwear license for BCBGeneration, BCBG Max Azria, Lucky Brand and kensiegirl. The company's portfolio also includes the design and sourcing of footwear for Tory Burch as well as a partnership with the apparel lifestyle brand Sanctuary.

SOURCE Jones Apparel Group, Inc.