Chris Christmas Recognized as Kmart Designer of the Year
Street-Savvy Styles and Innovative Style Set Denver Designer Apart
LOS ANGELES, May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tarrant Apparel Group
(NASDAQ:TAGS), a design and sourcing company for private label and private
brand casual apparel, today announced that Kmart will honor designer and Gear7
creator Chris Christmas as Designer of the Year, recognizing the Denver
native's incredible contribution to Kmart's goal of delivering products and
services that appeal to street-savvy style conscious consumers. The Designer
of the Year Award is presented in conjunction with Kmart's on-going commitment
to serve and support innovative projects within minority-owned businesses.
Mr. Christmas, the founder of Gear7, launched the proprietary apparel brand in
partnership with Kmart in 2002, to connect with today's emerging Generation X &
Y consumers. Both Kmart and Mr. Christmas share in a vision to deliver
on-trend fashion and sensible style at an affordable price.
Lisa Schultz, Kmart's chief creative officer, says, "Kmart recognizes the
creativity and commitment Mr. Christmas has brought to the relationship. Chris
constantly challenges Kmart to become an innovator in fashion and push design,
while remaining relevant with today's emerging consumers." Gear7 started as an urban-focused test with two racks in 150 stores in late
2002, and continued to grow, culminating in January of 2004 when Kmart expanded
the Gear7 program to all 1,500 retail stores. Kmart further increased its
commitment to the brand by adding distribution of Gear7 merchandise in both
young men's and boys categories nationwide.
Chris Christmas is aware of the impact a giant retailer's support can have on
innovation. "Gear7 provides the kind of merchandising, apparel and design
solutions that retailers need today, and I am pleased that Kmart has been the
first to embrace Gear7 and our creative notion that innovative thinking is not
only sound, but smart business," said Christmas.
In June, Mrs. Shultz will present "The Designer of the Year Award" to Mr. Christmas in New York at the Kmart Design studio.
About Tarrant Apparel Group Tarrant Apparel Group serves specialty retailers, mass merchants, and national
department stores, and branded wholesalers by designing, merchandising,
contracting for manufacture of, and selling casual and well- priced apparel for
women, men, and children. Through its subsidiary, Private Brands, Inc., the
Company designs, markets, and manufactures privately owned brands, including
American Rag CIE, and has exclusive license agreements with several celebrity
brands such as Jessica Simpson and Beyonce Knowles House of Dereon. DATASOURCE: Tarrant Apparel Group CONTACT: Don Lewis - CMO, +1-323-934-0373, or , for Gear7; or Melissa Myron or Lila Sharifian, +1-212-850-5600, both for Tarrant Apparel Group
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