Perry Ellis International Announces New Licensing Partnership With Sensual, Inc. to Design and Distribute Intimates and Shapewear for Its Women's Sportswear Brand Rafaella

MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perry Ellis International, Inc. (PEI) PERY announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Sensual, Inc. a division of USA Apparel Group, granting rights to design and distribute intimates including lingerie, sleepwear, loungewear and shape-wear under the Rafaella® brand in the US and Canada.

Rafaella®, a key brand within the PEI portfolio of brands, speaks to the modern woman: in demand, on the go and always on trend. Known as the brand with the "perfect fitting pant," Rafaella designs clothes that "FIT" a woman's style, her busy life, and most importantly, her shape. The result is a solid collection of essential sportswear pieces that make it easy for women to look polished, full of personality and confident for work, play and everything in between. The updated product and brand identity have paved the way for the lifestyle brand to expand into new product categories.

"The success and global reach of the Rafaella brand is driven by our capability to offer sophisticated lifestyle styling that appeals to a wide-range of women across our many product offerings. We welcome Sensual, Inc.'s partnership to enhance our portfolio, and are delighted with the potential this collaboration offers in bringing further expansion to our overall global reach," commented Oscar Feldenkreis, president and chief operating officer of PEI.

"We are thrilled with this new licensing opportunity as we feel that Rafaella's commitment and expertise in delivering great fit to its consumers for many years will now extend to our innerwear and shapewear product and expand into our modern intimates and sleepwear offering," remarked Sensual, Inc.'s President, Izak Souid.   

Sensual, Inc. will be incorporating the Rafaella brand's sophisticated and updated print, color, and details to create a synergistic intimates collection with a planned distribution launch in better department and lingerie stores as well as through targeted intimate apparel e-commerce channels.   

For more information about Perry Ellis International, Inc. and the company's entire portfolio of brands, please visit www.PERY.com.

About Perry Ellis International

Perry Ellis International, Inc. is a leading designer, distributor and licensor of a broad line of high quality men's and women's apparel, accessories and fragrances. The Company's collection of dress and casual shirts, golf sportswear, sweaters, dress pants, casual pants and shorts, jeans wear, active wear, dresses and men's and women's swimwear is available through all major levels of retail distribution. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a portfolio of nationally and internationally recognized brands, including: Perry Ellis®, Jantzen®, Laundry by Shelli Segal®, C&C California®, Rafaella®, Cubavera®, Ben Hogan®, Savane®, Original Penguin® by Munsingwear®, Grand Slam®, John Henry®, Manhattan®, Axist®, and Farah®. The Company enhances its roster of brands by licensing trademarks from third parties, including: Nike® and Jag® for swimwear, and Callaway®, PGA TOUR®, and Jack Nicklaus® for golf apparel. Additional information on the Company is available at http://www.pery.com.

About USA Apparel Group

Founded in 1999, USA Apparel Group is responsible for wholesale importing, manufacturing and distribution of apparel, ladies sleepwear, ladies intimates, ladies footwear, and watches.

USA Apparel Group sells to fine department, specialty, mass, and off-price retailers.