March 24, 2004
Syosset, NY (March 24, 2004) – Eyewear Designs LTD. has introduced its first collection of New Balance Performance Sunwear to provide superior fit, performance and comfort, as well as technological innovation. The collection will debut at retail this month.
"We are extremely excited to partner with New Balance in this sunwear venture," says Tom Seltzer, Director of Sunwear Sales, Eyewear Designs. "We identify strongly with New Balance's manufacturing and marketing philosophies and have adapted them to the sunwear industry. The result is the most versatile and durable sunwear collection in the industry offering outstanding UV protection."
"Through our licensee partnership with Eyewear Designs, we are pleased to offer high performance sunwear with contemporary styling under the New Balance brand name," says Jim Tompkins, New Balance president and COO. "This sunwear collection uniquely encompasses the New Balance trademarks of fit, performance and comfort."
New Balance Performance Sunwear offers the Extreme Peripheral Vision (EPV) ™ System that restores directional accuracy in the periphery and provides more accurate vision across the entire lens. The field of clear vision is enhanced and widened to provide sharper vision and a "panoramic" effect as the eye moves away from the center of the lens toward the edge. This unique patented design can provide up to 20% wider field of accurate or precise vision for the weekend enthusiast and performance minded athlete.
The initial New Balance Performance Sunwear collection features six plastic and two metal frames individually engineered for versatility, durability and comfort. Each frame is individually conceptualized to seamlessly blend performance, technology and contemporary fashion. Lightweight and flexible, the collection offers Poly-Flex™ lenses – state of the art lens material that is highly impact resistant. In addition, each lens provides clear sharp optics, while allowing a high percentage of light transmission. All styles block virtually 100% UVB rays and at least 98.5% UVA rays. The collection's Polarized Lenses with Glare Out II™ eliminate uncomfortable glare by blocking up to 99.9% of polarized light. Each lens also provides superior scratch protection for prolonged life.
"Based on the interest, reaction, and comments from retailers who have seen the collection, we have increased our sell-in and sell-through projections for 2004. Our lens technology and pricing strategies are key elements to filling an obvious void in the sporting goods and sport specialty channels. We are now looking forward to seeing consumer response at the retail launch," says Seltzer.
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, is a leading manufacturer of technologically innovative width-sized performance footwear and athletic apparel for women, men, and children. The range of product categories includes running, walking, cross training, basketball, tennis, adventure, and kids. Dunham joined the New Balance family in Fall 1998. Dunham is an outdoor performance brand known for its technologies, innovations and development of footwear that is lightweight, comfortable and inspired by the world outside. New Balance acquired the rights to the PF Flyers brand in February 2000. First introduced in 1937 by the B.F. Goodrich Company, PF Flyers was re-launched in Spring 2003 as an authentic brand of active casual footwear. Aravon® comfort performance brand footwear debuted in January 2004 as an unsurpassed blend of fit, comfort, support and style. New Balance employs more than 2,600 people around the globe, and in 2003 reported worldwide sales of $1.3 billion. For more information please visit http://www.newbalance.com.
Headquartered in Syosset, New York, Eyewear Designs Ltd. produces and markets superior quality designer eyewear products to an ever-growing global distributor network, and many large retail organizations. For over 30 years, Eyewear Designs has been acknowledged as an industry leader offering world-class designer brand eyewear with innovative styling, manufactured to the highest quality standards. Each collection offers a broad base of design inspirations that reflect the designer or brand's style. When viewed as a whole, the collections compromise a comprehensive family of brands that target every niche of the eyewear consumer market. For more information please visit http://www.eyeweardesigns.com
