Aeropostale, Inc. and Apparel Group LLC Open Aeropostale's First Store in Dubai, UAE

NEW YORK, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aeropostale, Inc. (NYSE: ARO), a mall-based specialty retailer of casual and active apparel for young women and men, today announced the opening of its first international store outside North America. The new store is located in Dubai, UAE at the Oasis Centre Mall and showcases Aeropostale's spring 2009 collection in the Company's latest store design. Aeropostale selected Apparel Group LLC as its licensee to open and operate its mall-based stores in the Middle East. Aeropostale and Apparel Group expect to open more than 20 stores in the region, including flagship locations in premiere malls.

Julian R. Geiger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aeropostale, Inc. stated, "We are excited to bring Aeropostale stores to the Middle East and plan to expand our store base aggressively in UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar over the next few years. This region has become a major shopping destination with some of the best-known malls in the world. We understand the importance of choosing the right partner and we believe that Apparel Group brings great expertise to building brands and operating licensed stores. This new venture in Dubai will enable us to introduce the Aeropostale brand in new markets overseas and lay the groundwork for what we believe can be a greater expansion of the brand globally."

Commenting on Aeropostale's launch in Dubai, Mr. Nilesh Ved, Chairman of Apparel Group LLC said, "We are extremely proud to be associated with Aeropostale, a company that sets the benchmark for excellence in the teen-apparel marketplace with its combination of great fashion at compelling prices. Aeropostale will enhance our collection of international fashion and lifestyle brands, and we believe it will be extremely successful in the region."

About Aeropostale, Inc.

Aeropostale, Inc. is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14 to 17 year-old young women and men. The Company provides customers with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion and fashion basic merchandise at compelling values. Aeropostale maintains control over its proprietary brands by designing, sourcing, marketing and selling all of its own merchandise. Aeropostale products can only be purchased in its stores or on-line through its e-commerce website (www.aeropostale.com). The Company currently operates 874 Aeropostale stores in 48 states and Puerto Rico, and 29 Aeropostale stores in Canada.

About Apparel Group LLC

Apparel Group LLC is a leading Fashion & Footwear retailer with over 500 stores and more than 50 international brands. Apparel Group has stores in UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, India, Poland, Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. It represents reputed international brands such as Aldo Shoes, Kenneth Cole, La Senza, Mango, Nine West, and Tommy Hilfiger.

SPECIAL NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE AND ORAL STATEMENTS MADE FROM TIME TO TIME BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANY CONTAIN CERTAIN "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" CONCERNING EXPECTATIONS FOR SALES, STORE OPENINGS, GROSS MARGINS, EXPENSES, STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND EARNINGS. ACTUAL RESULTS MIGHT DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. AMONG THE FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO MATERIALLY DIFFER INCLUDE, CHANGES IN THE COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCTS OR PRICING CHANGES BY OUR COMPETITORS, CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY AND OTHER EVENTS LEADING TO A REDUCTION IN DISCRETIONARY CONSUMER SPENDING; SEASONALITY; RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND OTHER CONDITIONS AND THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS; RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ITS GROWTH STRATEGIES, AS WELL AS THE OTHER RISK FACTORS SET FORTH IN THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-K AND QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q, FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Company Contact:
Kenneth Ohashi/Vice President, Investor &
Media Relations (646) 452-1876 or
kohashi@aeropostale.com

Media Contact:
Leigh Parrish/Diane Zappas, FD
(212) 850-5600

SOURCE Aeropostale, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.aeropostale.com