Bendet to create exclusive line for Payless

TOPEKA, Kan. Payless ShoeSource announced today that it has signed a deal with fashion designer Stacey Bendet, mastermind behind the alice + olivia designer label, to create the alice + olivia for Payless collection, Bendet's first-ever footwear collection, which will be exclusively available at Payless stores and alice + olivia boutiques in spring and summer 2008.

Bendet is the latest designer to create a line for Payless, joining a group of well-known fashion figures including Abaete designer Laura Poretzky, Lela Rose and style icon Patricia Field.

"We are excited to continue to expand the Payless Designer Collections and thrilled to add Stacey Bendet as our newest guest designer," said Matt Rubel, ceo and president of Payless ShoeSource. "Stacey is a fabulous talent with a retro, fun and flirty style perfect for today's contemporary girl. Her design aesthetic will complement well with our current designer collections, and we look forward to bringing Stacey's first footwear designs to shoppers across America."

According to Payless, the alice + olivia for Payless line will debut at the alice + olivia spring 2008 show at New York Fashion Week this September. The collection will later launch in select Payless stores and Payless.com in spring 2008 with a summer collection to follow.