Adidas by Stella McCartney

Introducing the first true sport performance design collection for women.

New York, Herzogenaurach/Germany, September 8, 2004 - adidas and Stella McCartney announced a long-term partnership today in New York, presenting the adidas by Stella McCartney sport performance collection. For the first time ever a high-end fashion designer has created a functional sport performance range for women. The first collection will be available in stores across the U.S., Japan and Europe starting spring/summer 2005.

Offering products for Running, Gym/Workout and Swimming as well as Cover-ups, adidas by Stella McCartney is truly a first and a genuine innovation in the women's sportswear market. "This collection gives women what they want, products that both perform and look great", says Bill Sweeney, Project Leader and Head of Apparel at the adidas Sport Performance division. "We combined Stella's unique design and her instinctive insight into women with adidas' knowledge in creating breakthrough functional sports products."

Stella McCartney adds: "Women take both - their sports and their style - seriously. Why should we have to sacrifice one for the other? Working with adidas is a lifetime opportunity to give female sports enthusiasts a choice."

Stella McCartney not only worked with adidas but with a number of athletes to ensure the product delivers on both performance and, of course, style. Both companies appointed a designated team to work together on the project. The cooperation is a long-term one and plans are to cover even more sport performance areas in the future. The first collection will hit retail in February 2005 and will be available in high-end department stores in the U.S. and Japan as well as 18 adidas Sport Performance Center stores in Europe. The collection will roll out twice a year, with price points ranging from 40 to 200 Euros.

Note: adidas offers products in three different divisions: Sport Performance (leading technologies), Sport Heritage (Originals models), Sport Style (sports-inspired design collaboration with Yohji Yamamoto). The adidas by Stella McCartney range is part of the adidas Sport Performance division.