NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (NYSE: JNY) today announced that its Nine West Group subsidiary would design and market Gloria Vanderbilt branded women's and girls' footwear. This product line was previously marketed under a licensing arrangement when Jones acquired the Gloria Vanderbilt trademark earlier this year.

Rhonda Brown, President and CEO of Nine West Group, stated, "Our team is very excited about the opportunity to design and market footwear under the Gloria Vanderbilt brand. It is yet another highly-recognizable brand name which is being added to our powerful footwear portfolio." Ms. Brown went on to say, "We intend to launch the business during the August footwear market in Las Vegas with customer deliveries beginning in Spring 2003."

Peter Boneparth, President and CEO of Jones Apparel Group, Inc., commented, "We are happy to see the growth strategy of our recently acquired Gloria Vanderbilt brand continue to evolve. This is a great example of our ability to leverage well-known brands across multiple core competencies."

Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jny.com), a Fortune 500 Company, is a leading designer and marketer of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company's nationally recognized brands include: Jones New York; Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Ralph by Ralph Lauren, and Polo Jeans Company, which are licensed from Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation; Evan-Picone, Rena Rowan, Norton McNaughton, Gloria Vanderbilt, Erika, Energie, Currants, Jamie Scott, Todd Oldham, Nine West, Easy Spirit, Enzo Angiolini, Bandolino, Napier and Judith Jack. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Tommy Hilfiger brand licensed from Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation. Celebrating more than 30 years of service, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

Certain statements herein are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements represent the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including the strength of the economy and the overall level of consumer spending, the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing retail environment, and other factors which are set forth in the Company's 2001 Form 10-K and in all filings with the SEC made by the Company subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.jny.com
CONTACT: Wesley R. Card, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, or Anita Britt, Executive Vice President Finance, +1-215-785-4000, both of Jones Apparel Group