New Brown Shoe line exclusively at Payless

TOPEKA, Kan. and GREENWICH, Conn. Payless ShoeSource and H.H. Brown Shoe Company announced today that they have signed a multi-year agreement making Payless ShoeSource the exclusive retailer for the Dexter brand of footwear and accessories in the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. H.H. Brown will continue to design, develop and sell Dexter performance bowling and golf shoes, as well as the exclusive hand-sewn Dexter 1957 collection hand-crafted in Maine.

Payless will align the Dexter brand with its new fashion direction and house of brands strategy, while working with H.H. Brown to leverage the rich 50-year heritage and strong equity of the brand. Payless said it will launch the new Dexter line first with a men's collection in select Payless stores for the 2007 holiday season followed by full men's and women's collections launched in all stores in spring 2008.

Payless will utilize its footwear design team in New York City to design and develop the new Dexter collections featuring original designs inspired by the latest trends. The company said it expects the new Dexter collections to include casual, dress, boots, and fashion athletic footwear styles, as well as accessories.