L.e.i. Announces the Launch of the 'L.e.i. Model Citizen Campaign'

L.e.i. Announces the Launch of the "L.e.i. Model Citizen Campaign" in Association with Teen Vogue and in Support of Fashion Delivers.(PRNewsFoto/Jones Apparel Group, Inc.) NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES

28 Jan 2010 16:00 Africa/Lagos

L.e.i. Announces the Launch of the 'L.e.i. Model Citizen Campaign' in Association with Teen Vogue and in Support of Fashion Delivers

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In association with Teen Vogue, junior denim brand, L.e.i., exclusive to Walmart stores, is on the lookout for three model citizens to star in its next ad campaign. The micro site, leimodelcitizen.com, will act as the main point of entry for the contest. In addition, L.e.i. will host a national call to action inviting girls ages 15-21 to showcase their "life, energy and intelligence." These events in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, will give girls the opportunity to shoot a short video that shows how they represent life, energy and intelligence, and why they should be the next L.e.i Model Citizen.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100128/NY43924 )


The contest entry dates will run from February 1, 2010 to March 23, 2010 and girls will also be able to upload their own videos to the website, leimodelcitizen.com. A high profile panel of judges, including notable names from the fashion industry such as Teen Vogue Editor in Chief Amy Astley, designer Rachel Roy, models Chanel Iman and Ali Michael and Allan Ellinger, CEO of Fashion Delivers, will then select a grand prize winner and two runners up from the entrants. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with some of the judges at each of the events. There will be an opportunity for the public to vote on the top ten finalists from March 25, 2010 to April 6, 2010.


"We are honored to work in association with L.e.i to recognize young women for their pursuits, creativity, and enthusiasm, by awarding them for their exemplary contributions as a 'Model Citizen,'" stated Laura MCEwen, Publisher of Teen Vogue.


The Grand Prize winner will receive a $100,000 college scholarship and a feature in L.e.i.'s Fall 2010 national advertising campaign, a fashion makeover and complete L.e.i wardrobe, Teen Vogue internship and a trip to L.A. to attend Teen Vogue's "Young Hollywood" party. Second and third prize winners will also receive special prizing.


Chanel Iman said, "I am proud to be part of this contest where young girls are rewarded for their inner beauty and outer spirit. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of leadership at a young age and look towards our youth to be socially conscious leaders and role models, and therefore the next L.e.i. model citizens."


In partnership with Fashion Delivers, a national charity that believes "giving is always in fashion," L.e.i. will be encouraging young girls to pay it fashion forward by donating product to benefit the charity and asking participants to bring a jeans donation to each of the events. The first 25 girls to donate jeans at each of the events will receive a $50 gift certificate to Walmart. All girls will have the opportunity to help the mission of Fashion Delivers by being invited to Pay It [Fashion] Forward by spreading the word of the contest through Twitter and Facebook. With every tweet and Facebook forward L.e.i. will make a donation to benefit Fashion Delivers.


For more information please visit leimodelcitizen.com. L.e.i. is a division of Jones Apparel Group (NYSE:JNY) .


About Jones Apparel Group, Inc.


Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jonesapparel.com) is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores and through its e-commerce web sites. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, women's footwear under the Dockers® and Dockers® Women brands and infants', toddlers' and boys footwear (excluding girls footwear) under the Dockers® and Dockers® Premium brands, licensed from Levi Strauss & Co., and apparel under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i. and Evan-Picone, with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.


About Teen Vogue


Launched in February 2003, TEEN VOGUE publishes 10 issues annually and has over 1 million dedicated readers. Style-conscious girls everywhere know there's only one source for relevant fashion and beauty news presented in a sophisticated tone with the power of the VOGUE brand. In a time of expanding media choices, true authority is irreplaceable--and unmistakable.


About Fashion Delivers


On September 15, 2006, with only a three day notice, thirty fashion industry leaders came together to figure out how the industry could provide relief to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While larger national relief organizations existed, there was no structure in place to organize the immediate collection and distribution of excess product to those so desperately in need. Under the leadership of Allan Ellinger, the group canvassed the retail and home industries to gauge participation. The response was overwhelming. Over $4.5 million dollars worth of product was collected and channeled directly to victims suffering from the devastation. What began as a vision has turned into an incredible charitable endeavor to provide hope to those in need.


The mission of Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, Inc. is to unify the men's and women's apparel and home industries to donate new product in order to aid victims of disasters and individuals in need throughout the year. We match need with our availability of product coming from both wholesale and retail fashion industry vendors -- some of the biggest names in the fashion and home industries. Through a strategic alliance with K.I.D.S., we have structured a global network of more than one thousand local agencies that we coordinate with in the donation and delivery of excess products. While our organization provides aid to those in need, we also provide economic and philanthropic alternatives for companies disposing of their excess inventory.


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100128/NY43924
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

CONTACT: Harrison & Shriftman, Christina Zamarripa, +1-917-351-8663,
czamarripa@hs-pr.com; or L.e.i., Frances Clift, +1-212-536-9616,
Fclift@jny.com; or Teen Vogue, Eleanor Banco, Director of Public Relations,
+1-212-286-2479, Eleanor_banco@condenast.com


Web Site: http://www.jonesapparel.com/