NEW YORK— Lilly Pulitzer^®, a lifestyle brand inspired by the illustrious style of authentic Palm Beach, announced today that the company has entered into a licensing agreement with the Kenmark Group for the design, production and distribution of women’s sunglasses and optical eyewear under the Lilly Pulitzer brand.  The agreement is effective immediately and the new collection will be available at the retail level in January 2008, timed with the launch of the Spring 2008 collection, with distribution throughout the United States.

"We are thrilled to expand our business in the eyewear category,” said James Bradbeer, Jr., President of Lilly Pulitzer, “as we continue to grow as a lifestyle brand, we listen to our generations of Lilly Lovers and know that they continually want more from us.  Our agreement with the Kenmark Group is ideal as they have a strong record of successfully interpreting upscale brands, which in turn allows us to offer yet another category of products that meet our consumer’s lifestyle needs.”

The extension into eyewear is consistent with Lilly Pulitzer’s strategy to develop a comprehensive lifestyle brand for generations of passionate consumers.  Describing the vision for this venture, Sharon Sweeney, EVP of Products for Lilly Pulitzer, said, “The aspirational, authentic Palm Beach lifestyle is a touchstone for our brand, the standard by which all things are measured.  But our primary focus as a company and as a retailer continues to be finding ways to delight the consumer and lift their spirits.  Together with the Kenmark Group, we can easily translate all this into sophisticated yet differentiated and fun eyewear.”

Distribution for the first collection is aimed at upscale department stores and specialty boutiques as well as 17 Lilly Pulitzer Retail Stores and 75 Lilly Pulitzer Via Shops throughout the U.S.  The eyewear collection will be designed with a bit of whimsy for the affluent-at-ease and will include sunglasses with optical eyewear following in the second year.   Retail prices for the sunwear collection will range from $90-$180.

Don Howard, President of the Kenmark Group added, “Lilly Pulitzer is a well-known established brand that women love to wear. We are looking forward to adding Lilly Pulitzer into our diverse portfolio of designer brands in our Couteur Designs division.”

“We look forward to collaborating with the Lilly Pulitzer brand on creating a beautiful sunwear collection inspired by the authentic Palm Beach lifestyle,” said Luisa Natale, Vice President, Sunwear Division at the Kenmark Group. “The collection will offer women distinctive designs with unique embellishments that are truly iconic.”

The Kenmark Group provides exceptional products and service to the optical profession. With 35 years of experience, the Kenmark Group prides itself on providing quality products, competitive prices and superior customer service. Couteur Designs, a division of the Kenmark Group, features designer eyewear by Vera Wang, Jhane Barnes and Cynthia Rowley. Branded collections from Kenmark include: República, Thalia, Hush Puppies, Wolverine, Timex and house collections. For a complete offering of frames and sun styles, visit www.kenmarkoptical.com. 

Lilly Pulitzer provides apparel for women, men and children, accessories, gifts and footwear, a bedding and bath collection, and two entertaining books, all inspired by the authentic Palm Beach lifestyle. The children’s clothes are a pint-size version of the ladies’ line, reflecting the same color palette and prints in charming styles appropriate for infants, toddlers and girls size 4-16. There are 75 Lilly Pulitzer Via Shops in Lilly-loving communities around the country.  Lilly Pulitzer also operates a number of company-owned retail stores in select locations including Greenwich, Connecticut; Key West, Sarasota, and Winter Park, Florida; Westchester, New York; Hinsdale, Illinois; Troy, Michigan; Marlton, New Jersey; Lyndhurst, Ohio; Ardmore and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Southlake and Houston, Texas; and San Diego, California. Lilly Pulitzer is sold in major department stores including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as upscale specialty shops and clubs nationwide.  More information on products, distribution and the Lilly story is available at www.lillypulitzer.com.