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Lela Rose for Payless Katrina slingback

Payless Expands Runway Style With Designer Lela Rose
Multi-Year Agreement adds Special Occasion Line “Unforgettable Moments”

TOPEKA, Kan. (June 2, 2008)—Designer Lela Rose has signed a multi-year agreement with Payless ShoeSource to continue their relationship, started in September 2006, with the Lela Rose for Payless seasonal line, as well as add a new special occasion collection, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose. All styles will be available exclusively at the footwear retailer. The agreement includes four seasonal Lela Rose for Payless collections per year, featuring original footwear and accessory designs created in conjunction with Lela Rose’s ready-to-wear clothing. Together, the footwear and clothing collections will be unveiled on the runway at Lela Rose’s New York Fashion Week show. Payless makes the designer collection available in stores and at payless.com for less than $40 per item.

As a natural progression inspired by Rose’s highly-publicized 2007 wedding dress collection, Payless and Rose have also agreed to expand their partnership with Rose designing Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, a special occasion collection exclusively for Payless due out early next year. This new collection will include several core classic styles, as well as refreshed seasonal silhouettes featuring the latest trend details, which can be dyed in 64 colors hand-picked by the designer.

“It has been absolutely amazing to work with Payless,” says Rose. “They have given me the opportunity to translate my collections into shoes and accessories that are not only fashionable and designer-looking, but more importantly, available to every woman. Nearly every woman I know has a closet with a range of items to mix and match inexpensive with expensive. My line at Payless fits right into that high-low idea.”

Rose will continue to design a line of infant and toddler shoes under the brand name Teeny Toes Lela Rose Collection. Inspired by the birth of her daughter, Rosey Potter Jones, the line was first launched as an infant-only collection in spring ’08. The line will continue to be inspired by Rosey, and reflect her growth by expanding to toddlers, as well as “me too” styles that mimic shoes from the seasonal women’s line.

“Lela is a tremendous design talent with a truly unique view of American fashion,” says Payless CEO Matthew Rubel. “Her shoe designs are amazing with a strong focus on utilizing unconventional fabrics and colors paired with the right silhouette and design details to make a $30 pair of shoes look like they are $300.”

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