Top Models Step for a Cause

NEW YORK, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine West is hitting the pavement in New York City for Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week to raise funds and awareness for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, The Council of Fashion Designers of America's ("CFDA") charitable organization. Jones Apparel Group (NYSE: JNY) ("Jones") is partnering with CFDA to create Nine West's Runway Relief Program, an initiative aimed to marshal the forces of the fashion and modeling industries to step for a cause.

Nine West's Runway Relief Program has enlisted top fashion models including Coco Rocha, Jessica White, Michelle Alves and Lisalla Montenegro as well as other models participating in New York Fashion Week to wear a limited edition, Nine West boot. These unique boots are equipped with an Omron GOsmart Pocket Pedometer (HJ-303) that track how many steps each model takes while going from castings and fittings to post-fashion show fetes. Each step taken in the boot will equal a pre-determined monetary amount that [Jones/ Nine West] will donate directly to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

Stacy Lastrina, Chief Marketing Officer of Jones Apparel Group and creator of this innovative concept said, "With Nine West's Runway Relief Program we are capturing the energy that models exude during Fashion Week, and translating it into a meaningful way to motivate the fashion community and consumers to give back."

"We are excited to be a part of Nine West's Runway Relief Program," said Steven Kolb, Executive Director of the CFDA. "Partnering with Nine West will make a powerful statement to encourage the industry and their shoppers to get involved in Fashion Target Breast Cancer."

Fred Allard, Nine West's Creative Director and designer of the boot said, "The boot has a combination of rugged, worn leathers and antique pewter hardware, creating a military-inspired boot that can be worn on the go with any outfit."

A limited supply of the boot will be available nationwide for $199 on Nine West's Facebook page, or at www.modelinia.com/ninewestrunwayrelief and www.ninewest.com/runwayrelief for a chance to win the boot beginning August 31st 2010.

Modelinia.com will give insider access to Nine West's Runway Relief Program. Visitors can follow models step-by-step throughout Fashion Week as well as check out exclusive articles and behind the scenes videos from each of the participating models. The models will keep video diaries throughout the week using Bloggie™ MP4 Cameras provided by Sony. Fashion fans can also participate in Nine West's Runway Relief Program by choosing a model to sponsor on the microsite. Each mile is worth a $10.00 donation to FTBC. Go to www.modelinia.com/ninewestrunwayrelief to sponsor your favorite model or donate.  

To kick off Nine West's Runway Relief Program, famed photographer Nigel Barker will photograph the forty models from Elite, IMG, Next and Marilyn modeling agencies in an iconic New York City location, capturing fashion giving back on camera.

The photo shoot will be streamed live on www.modelinia.com/ninewestrunwayrelief  and Nine West's Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ninewest on August 31st. Twitter members can follow Nine West's Runway Relief Program's hashtag, #RunwayRelief to get minute-to-minute updates from Fashion Week's top models participating in the program.

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, Stuart Weitzman, Robert Rodriguez, 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., apparel and accessories under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC, and Jessica Simpson jeanswear licensed from VCJS 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 Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) is a charitable initiative of the Council of Fashion Designers of America/CFDA Foundation. Through FTBC, the CFDA enlists the support of designers, models, retailers and other creative energies within the fashion industry to raise public awareness and funds for the breast cancer cause, in the U.S. and internationally. The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 370 of America's foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. http://www.fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org/index.php?cmd=home

About MODELINIA

MODELINIA connects women to fashion, beauty and lifestyle through the eyes and experiences of the world's supermodels.  Launched in February 2009, the only multi-platform media brand creates compelling content that inspires, informs and entertains. At Modelinia, supermodels reveal their secrets, ordinary and extraordinary, to help our audience gain the "style confidence" to look and feel their best.  Modelinia: Because models don't get enough attention.

About Omron Healthcare, Inc. 

Omron Healthcare, Inc., located in Bannockburn, IL, is the North and South American sales and marketing office of Omron Healthcare Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of blood pressure monitors for home use. With 100 million monitors sold worldwide to date, Omron Healthcare Group was the first to introduce manual and digital blood pressure monitors into the home healthcare market. Omron Healthcare offers innovative products and medical devices for use in sites ranging from hospitals to the home in the blood pressure monitoring, fitness diagnostics, thermometry, and respiratory categories. Omron Healthcare markets clinically proven products that provide accurate health information to consumers and physicians and support positive lifestyle changes and health improvement. For more information, visit www.omronhealthcare.com.

About Sony Electronics

Headquartered in San Diego, Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, design, engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony is noted for a wide range of consumer audio-visual products, such as the BRAVIA® LCD high-definition television, Cyber-shot® digital camera, Handycam® camcorder and Walkman® personal stereo. Sony is also an innovator in the IT arena with its VAIO® personal computers; and in high-definition professional broadcast equipment, highlighted by the XDCAM® HD and CineAlta™ lines of cameras and camcorders, and the SXRD™ 4K digital projector. The latest news and information is available at the company's web site at www.sony.com/news.

SOURCE Jones Apparel Group