Fiber Optimal: London Fog Fortifies Fashion Fabrics for Fall; No. 1 Outerwear — Rainwear Brand Steeped in Stylish Innovation

Business Wire, Feb 19, 2002

Lifestyle & Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2002

London Fog shines a spotlight on this season's biggest trend -- the return to natural fibers -- giving favorites such as cotton, corduroy and denim a new, fashionable look for Fall 2002.

Answering the demand for comfortable yet sophisticated apparel choices, London Fog weaves this emphasis on fabrication throughout the fall collection, giving consumers an array of options in eye-catching fashions blended with innovative protection.

Consumer preference always at the forefront of design decision, London Fog combines performance with popular silhouettes in rich, natural-based textiles to create a runway of designs. Hot new fabric specialties include Stretch Pebble Suede, Verona Shearling, Stretch Denim and Corduroy.

Style-conscious men and women can choose from classic, updated traditional and contemporary styles that suit an entire wardrobe of outer- and rainwear needs, making it easy to balance a fashionable, yet busy, lifestyle. New fabrications are offered in timeless silhouettes including the trench, barn style, barracuda, A-line swing and bomber, all updated with thoughtful details and trends of today.

Seattle-based London Fog also welcomes back their groundbreaking SIGNATURE collection, featuring the most advanced performance features available: GORE-TEX(R) Guaranteed To Keep You Dry(R) fabric technology, WINDSTOPPER(R) fabrics and Thinsulate(TM) Insulation by 3M(TM). Joining the popular collection for Fall 2002 is the company's new wool/cashmere blend, further raising the bar of stylish protection. Colors abound with metropolitan polish, guaranteeing unsurpassed style from day into evening.

"London Fog has consistently offered consumers the very best fabrication technology available," said Fredrick Hackett, director of merchandising. "This season our designers have combined ingenious fabrication advancements, clever detailing and contemporary fashion sensibility to traditional silhouettes, renewing the line, while preserving our heritage of quality and value."

Debuting for Fall `02 is the company's Cold Weather styles, a line of down-filled coats featuring the ultimate in winter protection, including storm cuffs, fleece collars and double-entry pockets. This new line offers consumers a way to brave the cold, without denying the rules of fashion.

"Suede is predicted to be wildly popular for fall," said Hackett. Machine-washable and completely water-repellant, London Fog's All Weather Suede collection offers the rich look and feel of suede with none of the hassle. For sophisticated design interest, London Fog pairs All Weather Suede with Verona Shearling in the ladies' collection for lush styles in feminine silhouettes.

Also returning is the Travel Collection -- now in its second fall season -- delivering maximum performance to make everyday travel easier. Designed for both men and women, this collection boasts advanced WPB Stretch ComfortZone(TM) fabric for added flexibility and comfort and a multitude of hidden pockets for safekeeping of valuables. "Waterproof/breathable, stretch and wrinkle-resistant, these coats offer stylish protections from the elements in dynamic designs that flex easily from day into evening," said Hackett.

Ladies can look forward to London Fog's Weathercloth collection -- complete with vibrant colors such as Riding Red and Blue Grass -- featuring equestrian details such as glen plaid and herringbone warmers in new 7/8's coat lengths. Likewise, this same fabrication is available for men in contemporary versions of classic outerwear barracuda and bomber styles in a rich, autumnal color story of Hampton Green, Seal Brown and Republican Navy.

About London Fog

London Fog(R), (www.londonfog.com) a division of London Fog Industries, began as Londontown Manufacturing Co. Today, London Fog represents 80 years of tradition and innovation, and remains a premier designer, marketer and distributor of quality dress and casual outerwear, rainwear and accessories for business and social occasions. Blending the English tradition of quality with time-tested craftsmanship, London Fog is a respected brand in the marketplace and ranks No. 1 in brand recognition (Women's Wear Daily, Fairchild 100, December 2001). London Fog operates showrooms in Seattle and New York, and has licensees in the U.S., Canada, China, Korea, Australia and the New Zealand. London Fog is located at 1700 Westlake Ave. N., Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98109. Telephone: 206/270-5300.