PUMA(R) Announces Partnership with Neil Barrett

Nürnberg, Germany 26.09.2003 (PROTEXT/ots) - Today PUMA AGannounces the appointment of Neil Barrett as Creative Directorfor a new series of PUMA Collections. The presentation of thisnew collaboration is scheduled for retail delivery in lateSpring 2004. The collection ranges from technical and lifestylesportswear to high-end men's and women's wear, includingaccessories and shoes. Highlights from the collection will beunveiled during Milan Fashion Week in January 2004. "We are excited to unveil a full PUMA collection with NeilBarrett as the creative force behind it. The partnershipincludes many exciting elements that will be revealed as we getcloser to the consumer release," said Neil Beeson, GeneralManager of the PUMA Black Station. Barrett's first collaboration with PUMA began in 2001 when heturned out PUMA's innovative 96 hours collection. The newcollections will evolve with the common theme derived from adifferent sport each season building to cover the mostinfluential PUMA sponsored sports. "By combining fashion and sport technology, sport lines willbe more refined and the fashion more sport influenced," saidNeil Barrett. "These collections will be a natural evolution ofthe sportlifestyle direction of menswear." Of British descent, Barrett's professional history isthoroughly Italian including five years as Senior MenswearDesigner at Gucci, four years as Design Director of PradaMenswear and launching his own brand name collection in 1999produced by among others, the Prada Group and Allegri. PUMA(R) is the global athletic brand that successfully fusesinfluences from sport, lifestyle and fashion. PUMA's uniqueindustry perspective delivers the unexpected in sportlifestylefootwear, apparel and accessories, through technical innovationand revolutionary design. Established in Herzogenaurach, Germanyin 1948, PUMA distributes products in over 80 countries. Forfurther information please visit www.puma.com.

ots Originaltext: PUMA Internet: http://www.presseportal.de PUMA Contact: Erin Cowhig International PR +1 617 488 2907erin.cowhig@puma.com Neil Barrett Contact: Miles Freeland Press Office +39 02 424111 211 pressoffice@neilbarrett.com

Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug"PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to bepublished under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial serviceproviding distribution of press releases from clients, who areidentified in the text of Protext reports and who bear fullresponsibility for their contents.

PROTEXT