* Company also announces new license agreements for Bongo Swimwear,
Outerwear, Socks and Hosiery
NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ICON) ("Iconix" or the "Company"), today announced a new license
agreement for Bongo jeanswear with The Mamiye Group, LLC ("Mamiye"), a leading
New York based denim designer and manufacturer. Mamiye is immediately assuming
the operations of the former Bongo jeanswear licensee. Jerry Rogers, currently
president Bongo Jeanswear, will continue on in that capacity.
Commenting on the new licensee, Neil Cole, Chairman and CEO of Iconix,
said, "We evaluated many companies for this jeanswear license and none had
product development, sourcing and retail relationships comparable to Mamiye.
Mamiye is a company with exceptional talent, focus and tremendous depth of
resources and I am confident that they will quickly elevate Bongo to one of
the largest and hottest junior brands in the market. Iconix will continue to
invest heavily in innovative celebrity driven advertising as we have done with
our recent campaign featuring TV star Kristin Cavallari and we are already
working on several breakthrough ideas for next spring. I am especially pleased
that there will be continuity with the brand and that Jerry Rogers will be
continuing on with us."
Charlie Mamiye, President of Mamiye, stated, "Bongo is a unique brand in
the junior marketplace. While dozens of labels have come and gone Bongo has
stood the test of time with twenty-five years of heritage as a fashion leader
and exciting celebrity driven advertising. Iconix is the dominant player today
in the junior marketplace and with their marketing support and Mamiye's
expertise in product development and manufacturing, I am confident Bongo can
expand its market share significantly. We are currently hiring a design team
that will be the best in the industry and building a sexy new, state-of-the-
art showroom. I am confident that retailers will be very excited about what
they see from Bongo over the next few months."
In addition to the new jeanswear license, the Company has also announced
that it entered into three additional license agreements to expand the Bongo
brand: Wiesner Products for socks and hosiery, Mystic Apparel for swimwear,
and Kids With Character for outerwear. Both swimwear and socks will be
launching in spring 2007, and the outerwear collection will debut in Fall
2007. Mystic Apparel and Kids with Character are associated companies of
Wiesner Products.
Charles Mizrahi, President of Wiesner Products, Inc. said, "We are very
excited to have the opportunity to market a full line of swimwear, outerwear
and socks/hosiery under the Bongo brand. Initial retail trade reaction is very
positive and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with Iconix
and the Bongo brand."
Iconix recently launched Bongo's new national ad campaign featuring
actress Kristin Cavallari in several major magazines including Teen Vogue,
Seventeen, In Touch and Cosmopolitan and as part of an integrated internet
marketing campaign. Kristin was propelled into fame when she and several
friends were cast in MTV's smash hit, "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C." The
campaign was created by the Iconix in-house marketing agency. Kristin will be
making special public appearances on behalf of the Bongo brand in partnership
with select retailers.
Founded in 1982 and acquired by the Company in 1998, BONGO has expanded
from a denim driven brand into a well-known junior lifestyle brand with a
variety of product categories including: footwear, tops, watches, handbags,
outerwear, swimwear, jewelry, socks, and children's apparel. Celebrity
spokespeople for the Bongo brand have included Liv Tyler, Rachel Bilson,
Nicole Richie and the stars of the MTV reality show, Laguna Beach.
Iconix Brand Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ICON) owns, licenses and markets a
growing portfolio of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R),
BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R) RAMPAGE (R) and MUDD (R). The Company
licenses it brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that
touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the
mass market. Iconix, through its in-house advertising agency, advertises and
markets its brands to continually drive greater consumer awareness and
loyalty.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. The statements that are not historical facts contained in this press
release are forward looking statements that involve a number of known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult or
impossible to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company,
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company
to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such
factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainty regarding the results of
the Company's acquisition of additional licenses, continued market acceptance
of current products and the ability to successfully develop and market new
products particularly in light of rapidly changing fashion trends, the impact
of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties relating to the
Company's licensees' dependence on foreign manufacturers and suppliers,
uncertainties relating to customer plans and commitments, the ability of
licensees to successfully market and sell branded products, competition,
uncertainties relating to economic conditions in the markets in which the
Company operates, the ability to hire and retain key personnel, the ability to
obtain capital if required, the risks of litigation and regulatory
proceedings, the risks of uncertainty of trademark protection, the uncertainty
of marketing and licensing acquired trademarks and other risks detailed in the
Company's SEC filings. The words "believe," "anticipate," "expect,"
"confident," "project," provide "guidance" and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date the
statement was made.
Contact: Tara Taff
Public Relations Manager
Iconix Brand Group
212.730.0030
SOURCE Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
-0- 08/14/2006
/CONTACT: Tara Taff, Public Relations Manager, Iconix Brand Group,
+1-212-730-0030/
/Web site: http://iconixbrand.com /
(ICON)
CO: Iconix Brand Group, Inc.; The Mamiye Group, LLC
ST: New York
IN: REA FAS
SU: LIC
MC
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9605 08/14/2006 08:17 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com