`High Fashion' Brown; Students Offer Designs for Best International UPS Uniform

Business Wire, May 5, 2004

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2004

Brown will be one of the hottest colors at the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology's (FIT) student fashion show on Tuesday night. A show highlight will be the work of six semi-finalist designers in a competition to create a mock UPS uniform for every region of the world the shipping company serves.

Although the winning outfit won't become an official UPS uniform, its designer will gain exposure to high-profile fashion industry experts who are judging the contest. The winner, to be announced at an event immediately following the show, will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize from UPS.

Entry designs ran the gamut from a kimono-inspired jacket to a safari-style jumpsuit. FIT student Demeatris Davis, who designed a striking blue and chocolate brown suit for North America, said his design reflects the modern role of women in American society.

"In our ever-changing society where traditionally male-dominated professions are now being taken up by women, the new UPS woman does just as good of a job as her male counterpart; she's just dressed better," Davis said.

UPS's sponsorship of the FIT fashion show is the latest in the company's ongoing collaborations with the fashion industry.

"We are working with FIT to support designers of the future and to illustrate how UPS is the perfect fit for the fashion industry's global business needs," said Kurt Kuehn, UPS senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing. "From logistics to trade finance, UPS helps fashion businesses manage the complexities of international shipping so they can focus on what they do best - creating fashion for consumers around the world."

UPS already is providing tailor-made solutions for many fashion businesses. Two examples include:

-- Eveningwear and bridal gown designer Helen Morley relies on

UPS to import everything from Chinese silk to Italian lace for

her dresses, and then ships her gowns to high-end stores such

as Saks Fifth Avenue. UPS offers a range of express delivery

services, handles customs clearance and even converts

international charges into U.S. dollars to simplify billing.

-- Italy-based online boutique YOOX (yoox.com) sells luxury

apparel and accessories from designers such as Dolce & Gabbana

and Armani over the Internet. UPS handles all of YOOX's

international shipping with fast express delivery, a free and

easy returns system for customers, as well as a service that

allows YOOX to ship multiple items across borders as one

consolidated shipment for faster customs clearance.

For more information about UPS and the fashion industry, log on to www.pressroom.ups.com.

The Fashion Institute of Technology is a college of art and design, business and technology of the State University of New York, with more than 30 majors leading to the AAS, BFA, BS, MA and MPS degrees. This year, The Unofficial, Biased Guide to the 328 Most Interesting Colleges, issued by Kaplan, listed FIT, saying "FIT gives you elite Seventh Avenue connections and conservatory-type training at a public school price."

UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS), and the company can be found on the Web at UPS.com.