Payless ShoeSource Unveils Latest Designer Footwear Collections With ...

Tag : Specialty Fabric
Payless ShoeSource Unveils Latest Designer Footwear CollectionsWith Three Guest Designers at New York Fashion Week Among the Most Widely Distributed Designer Footwear Labels inAmerica, Abaete for Payless(TM), Lela Rose for Payless(TM), andalice + olivia for Payless(TM) Spring Collections Hit the Runway;Fall Designer Lines Available Next Week in Stores

NEW YORK, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As consumers prep forcooler weather by stocking up on the hottest fall fashions, BryantPark is already a season ahead as fashion industry insiders aregaining a glimpse of next year's spring style at New York FashionWeek. As models showcase the coming trends, attendees will alsopreview the spring '09 Designer Collections from Payless' guestdesigners Laura Poretzky, Lela Rose and Stacey Bendet. Theretailer's Spring 09 designer footwear and handbag collections willhit stores beginning February 2009 and, as always, for on averageunder $45 an item.
In addition, shoppers eager to sport the fall season's designercollections can snap up the fall '08 Abaete for Payless, Lela Rosefor Payless and alice + olivia for Payless collections -- availableon Sept. 9 at select Payless stores and Payless.com.
Payless is on a mission to democratize fashion and design infootwear and accessories. The Payless Designer Collections --seasonal lines of original footwear and handbags created by fashiondesigners and hot off the runway -- are a key piece of thatstrategy.
"We are always excited to watch our designers debut their latestPayless collections at the nation's premier fashion event -- NewYork Fashion Week," said LuAnn Via, president and chief executiveofficer for Payless. "As models walk the runway in the springready-to-wear lines they are outfitted from head to toe in thedesigners' original designs -- including our shoes and handbags.This is a unique program: we don't limit the designers' creativityand are committed to delivering hot-off-the-runway looks for lessto consumers, season after season. The designers benefit as well,gaining a new platform for their creativity and broad access totheir designs."
The distinctive creative voice that characterizes each designer'scollection further aligns with Payless' democratic approach tofashion. Whether a consumer identifies with Laura Poretzky's"American International" image, Lela Rose's "Classic With a Twist"aesthetic, or Stacey Bendet's "Modern Hippie Chic" vibe, shoppersare sure to find a match for their unique personal style among thePayless Designer Collections.
Unveiled at the Abaete runway show and mirroring her inspirationsfor the Spring 09 ready-to-wear (RTW) line, Laura Poretzky's 11thshoe and accessory collection for Payless represents the two sidesof a girl -- one side, reason; the other side, heart. The "goodgirl" versus "bad girl" dichotomy of Poretzky's RTW line isreflected in her shoe line with an interplay of contrastingmaterials and details. Five styles ranging from an oxford lace-upheel to a wedge flat sandal will hit the runway in shades of blue,tan, black and white, featuring black lacquer and stacked woodmaterials accented with pewter screw hardware details.
The Spring 09 Lela Rose collection is inspired by ancient Africantextiles featuring tribal patterns, bold colors and a strong ethnicsensibility with a modern twist. Rose's seventh collection forPayless complements her RTW line with a range of silhouettes frompeep-toe wedge sandals to flats, featured in materials such asgingham and satin accented with lucite, natural wood andfrayed-ribbon detailing. Colors include chocolate, navy, tan,ivory, red and bird's eye blue.
Next Tuesday, Stacey Bendet will reveal her fourth shoe collectionfor Payless at her presentation at the alice + olivia store acrossfrom Bryant Park. alice + olivia's upcoming spring collection isall about "free love" -- love for one's closet! Payless embodiesthis theme, offering shoes at price points so affordable they freeshoppers to pursue their fashion fantasies. Bendet delivers threedistinct but complementary themes this season; long skirts and softlace dresses are paired with shrunken jackets and beaded tops,while spring bursts forth with colors and materials ranging fromsoft florals and fringe denim to pastels and pops of bold-coloredprints. Bendet's shoe designs coordinate with the apparel and willfeature a variety of silhouettes -- including new styles for girls-- that embody the free love spirit in footwear, as well as hersignature pop of color typically found in the upper, inside lining,or shoe bottoms.
About Payless Guest Designers
Laura Poretzky, Lela Rose and Stacey Bendet are Payless GuestDesigners -- select fashion designers that create designer footwearand accessory collections featuring the latest runway looks, whichPayless brings to its stores at value prices. Each collection isunique and reflective of the designer's signature style: Poretzky's"American international," drawing from her rich internationalexperiences living in Brazil, France and New York, Rose's strongfocus on "classic with a twist," and Bendet's "retro sophisticate."The Payless Guest Designer program is a key strategy in Payless'overall mission to democratize fashion in footwear and accessories.For more information about Payless at New York Fashion Week and theGuest Designers behind the Payless Designer Collections, please seepaylessontherunway.com.
About Laura Poretzky
Laura Poretzky is a New York-based designer who designs under theAbaete label. She was born in France to a Russian father and aDanish-Brazilian mother, and raised between Paris, Rio de Janeiroand New York. After graduating from the Rhode Island School ofDesign (RISD), Laura went on to work at some of the mostprestigious fashion houses in New York. After the launch of hersuccessful swimwear line, Laura extended her designs into acomplete line of ready-to-wear apparel and now footwear -- drawingas much on her experience as a New Yorker as on her Latina andEurasian roots.
About Lela Rose
Lela Rose is a Texas native and 1993 graduate of the Parson'sSchool of Design. She worked at Christian Francis Roth as DesignAssistant and soon after with Richard Tyler as Design Assistant andFabric Buyer. In 1998, Rose's vision and passion compelled her tocreate her signature ready-to-wear collection, Lela Rose, withstudio headquarters in New York City. Through intricately designedand finely detailed separates, dresses and jackets, Rose hasestablished herself as a renowned designer. In 2007, Rose launcheda wedding collection focused on pairing unconventional fabrics andtechniques -- a trademark of the designer. Rose rounds out heroffering with the designer footwear and accessory collection, LelaRose for Payless(TM); the designer recently signed a new multi-yearagreement to continue to design the popular line availableexclusively at Payless ShoeSource. To further expand thepartnership and draw from Rose's 2007 launch of her weddingcollection, Payless and Rose have also agreed to Rose designingUnforgettable Moments by Lela Rose(TM), a special occasioncollection exclusively for Payless initially due out in early 2009.
About Stacey Bendet
Founded in 2002 by Stacey Bendet, alice + olivia launched its "justpants" collection to rave reviews. Soon thereafter, Andrew Rosen,founder of Theory, became Stacey's partner in the company. Usinginnovative fabrics and unique designs, alice + olivia successfullyexpanded into tops, dresses, eveningwear, sweaters, bathing suits,denim and men's, creating a unique lifestyle brand for today'sretro sophisticate. The collection is available at its signatureboutiques and in over 500 stores around the world such as Barneys,Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Scoop, and Neiman Marcus.
About Payless
Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a unit of Collective Brands, Inc., is thelargest specialty family footwear retailer in the WesternHemisphere and is dedicated to democratizing fashion and design infootwear and accessories and inspiring fun, fashion possibilitiesfor the family at a great value. As of the end of second quarter2008, the company operated more than 4,500 stores. In addition,customers can buy shoes over the Internet through Payless.com(R) at http://www.payless.com .
Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringingcompelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwearand related accessories to consumers worldwide. The companyoperates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio,as well as multiple price points and selling channels includingretail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc.includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion anddesign in footwear and accessories through its more than4,500-store retail chain, with its brands American Eagle(TM),Airwalk(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R) and designer collections Abaetefor Payless, Lela Rose for Payless and alice + olivia for Payless,among others; Stride Rite, focused on lifestyle and athleticbranded footwear and high-quality children's footwear soldprimarily through wholesaling, with its brands including StrideRite(R), Keds(R), Sperry Top-Sider(R), Robeez(R), and Saucony(R),among others; and Collective Licensing International, the branddevelopment, management and global licensing unit, with such youthlifestyle brands as Airwalk(R), Vision Street Wear(R), Sims(R),Lamar(R) and LTD(R), World Snowboarding Championships(TM),Sugarboards(R), Carve(R), genetic(R), Dukes(TM), Rage(R),Ultra-Wheels(R), and Skate Attack(R) brands. Information about, andlinks for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can befound at http://www.collectivebrands.com . Website: http://www.payless.com/
Website: http://www.collectivebrands.com/