MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (SKECHERS PR) - SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE:SKX) announced today that it has signed platinum recording artist Ashlee Simpson. Under the global endorsement agreement, the 21-year-old singing sensation will appear in the Company's worldwide ad campaign through 2007.
"I grew up wearing SKECHERS. Like me, they are not afraid of taking chances and having fun," said Ashlee, who was recently declared "One of the reigning queens of pop music!" by NBC's The Today Show. "I'm happy to be a part of the brand and hope to add a few more pairs to my closet."
Signing Ashlee as the front person for SKECHERS is a natural step for the Company, which has a history of partnering with the most talented female musicians from early fame through the height of their careers. Past signings include Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and the Company's current spokesperson, American Idol 2005 winner and multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood.
"Ashlee is a leading force in the music industry," commented Michael Greenberg, SKECHERS' president. "She's young, beautiful, talented, and already has two multi-platinum records and six million records sold under her young belt. Ashlee is also the perfect union between fashion and music, using her influence to empower young women to be themselves. We were drawn to her energy, style and grace -- which we believe will be captured in the upcoming SKECHERS world marketing campaign. We are excited to have Ashlee wearing our newest women's footwear."
Ashlee will appear in a multi-level marketing campaign wearing SKECHERS sport, active and fashion footwear. Set to launch in late 2006, the first photo shoot is scheduled for August 2006 after Ashlee concludes the summer phase of her North American tour in support of her No. 1 sophomore release I Am Me.
Ashlee first sparked interest in the entertainment world and with teens in her recurring role on 7th Heaven (2002-2004), but it was the two-season run of MTV's hit The Ashlee Simpson Show in 2004 that brought her international attention and legions of fans. Her first record, Autobiography, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200, and has since sold four million copies. Like her first, I Am Me debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200, and has to-date sold more than two million copies since its 2005 debut. Ashlee was named Billboard's 2004 "Artist of the Year," and is the June/July cover girl on Teen People's "Top 25 Under 25." Recently, Ashlee has appeared on covers of Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Jane and Blender.
SKECHERS USA, Inc., based in Manhattan Beach, California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of men's, women's and children's footwear under the SKECHERS name as well as under seven uniquely branded names. SKECHERS footwear is available in the United States via department and specialty stores, Company-owned SKECHERS retail stores and its e-commerce website, as well as in over 100 countries and territories through the Company's global network of distributors and Canadian and European subsidiaries. Please visit www.skechers.com or call the Company's information line at 877-INFO-SKX.
