Jones l.e.i brand to be sold at Wal-Mart

NEW YORK Jones Apparel Group today announced that Wal-Mart will begin carrying the l.e.i. brand for juniors, junior plus and girls in summer 2008 for Back-to- School, at Wal-Mart stores nationwide. The deal with Wal-Mart will expand Jones existing relationship with the retailer.

Wesley Card, Jones Apparel Group president and ceo, stated, "We see this as a great opportunity to utilize Jones' operational skills in partnership with a retailer of Wal-Mart's size and scale. We are confident that with this partnership with Wal-Mart, there is excellent potential to grow and leverage the strength of l.e.i. as a branded resource across categories."

The l.e.i line is a denim-based brand that targets the teenage girl market.