- New IZOD Vintage Clothing Line Celebrates the Centennial Era of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500
- IZOD Also Reveals Indy-Themed National Advertising Campaign and Indy 500 Sweepstakes
NEW YORK, March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (NYSE: PVH) introduced today the new IZOD/INDY vintage clothing line commemorating the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s “Centennial Era.” The new race-inspired collection will launch initially at Macy’s stores nationwide next month. In July 2008, PVH announced an agreement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the Indy Racing League (IRL) that designated the IZOD brand as the official apparel of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights.
The Centennial Era is the Speedway’s three-year celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Speedway in 2009 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2011. The IZOD design team has taken 100 years of Speedway and Indy 500 artwork and designed distressed, vintage look-and-feel short sleeve polo shirts and tees that reflect and celebrate the uniquely American heritage of Indy racing. In addition, a race-inspired collection of solid cotton piques feature official logos and special centennial insignias for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500.
“We are thrilled to be launching a clothing line that celebrates and brings to life 100 years of INDY racing in America,” said
Allen Sirkin, President and Chief Operating Officer of PVH. “The IndyCar Series is an ideal fit with the sport-spirited IZOD brand lifestyle. We are also excited to partner with Macy’s, which is providing a platform to highlight the partnership between these two iconic American brands and to celebrate 100 years of Indy racing through both product and the display of museum archives.”
To support the launch of the IZOD/INDY sportswear line, PVH will launch a national advertising campaign this month. The new IZOD/INDY themed 30-second spot will run during all nationally televised ABC and VERSUS IRL race broadcasts, as well as in movie theaters across the country. The media plan also includes print advertisements to appear in Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine, and on high-profile billboards in New York City’s Times Square and in Toronto. The advertisements feature IZOD-sponsored 2008 Watkins Glen winner and 2008 Indy 500 Rookie-of-the-Year
Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Promotional activities for the IZOD/INDY sportswear collection include a text messaging and web-based national sweepstakes to be hosted on macys.com from April 4 to May 8, 2009. The grand prize is an all-inclusive package for four to the 2009 Indianapolis 500, which includes a police escort to and from the track, VIP all access pit and garage passes, pace car rides, access to the pre-race drivers’ meeting, Festival Parade tickets, hotel accommodations and air travel.
“We are excited by the product and believe it adds a new dimension to the IZOD sportswear selling floor,” said
Marc Mastronardi, Macy’s group vice president of men’s sportswear. “This partnership provides a platform to distribute and market differentiated merchandise on a national basis, while catering to a growing Indy fan base at a local level.”
Throughout the 2009 IndyCar Series season, in-store events will take place at select Macy’s stores around the country to further support the launch of the IZOD/INDY sportswear line, beginning with the first race of the season in St. Petersburg, Florida. These events include meet-and-greet autograph sessions with current IndyCar Series drivers and legends of the Indianapolis 500, as well as an IZOD/INDY racecar showcase, two-seater racecar rides, and the official IndyCar Series Fan Zone. Events will be held in markets such as Los Angeles, CA, Kansas City, KS, Indianapolis, IN, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, Richmond, VA, Columbus, OH, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Chicago, IL and Miami, FL.
“We couldn’t be happier with the IZOD team and the enthusiasm they have shown towards the IndyCar Series,” said
Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League. “The IZOD-Macy’s partnership and promotional plan is easily one of the biggest we have seen outside of our endemic space and will transcend the sport. A race-inspired clothing line around the series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Centennial Era is fantastic for our fans and the sport.”
Under its July 2008 sponsorship agreement, PVH also provides apparel to IRL and IMS executives and crew — from pit officials and track flagmen to the on-air broadcast talent and track announcers. This exclusive collection is inspired by the uniquely American heritage of IndyCar racing and designed to address the performance needs of IRL and IMS staff.
About IZOD and Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation:
IZOD, one of the United States’ best-known and best-selling apparel brands, is known for its sport-inspired, clean designs and colorful product lines. With a history in the United States dating back to the 1930s, the IZOD brand is licensed to 21 companies in the U.S. and 17 other countries. IZOD brand products include apparel and accessories for men, women, and children, soft home goods and men’s fragrance. The IZOD brand offerings include products sold under the IZOD PerformX (technical and performance fabricated sportswear), IZOD Jeans, and IZOD Luxury Sport (a luxury sportswear collection sold exclusively at Macy’s) sub brands, which are sold in over 6,000 retail venues worldwide, including department, specialty and company-operated stores. Visit www.izod.com.
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation is one of the world’s largest apparel companies. It owns and markets the Calvin Klein brand worldwide. It is the world’s largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of goods under its own brands,
Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, IZOD, ARROW, Bass and
G.H. Bass & Co., and its licensed brands, including
Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, unlisted, A Kenneth Cole Production, BCBG Max Azria, BCBG Attitude, MICHAEL Michael Kors,
Sean John, Chaps, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, JOE Joseph Abboud,
Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY and Timberland. Visit www.pvh.com.
About the IndyCar Series:
The IndyCar Series is the premier open-wheel series in the United States, competing on a challenging combination of superspeedways, short ovals, scenic road courses and temporary street circuits. In 2009 the IndyCar Series will conduct 14 races in the U.S., two in Canada and one in Japan, all available worldwide through comprehensive, long-term agreements with ABC and VERSUS, with all races broadcast in High-Definition. A leader in motorsports technology, the IndyCar Series is the first racing series to power its Honda engines on 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol, a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. The IndyCar Series continues to the be the fastest, most competitive and innovative racing series, attracting a diverse lineup of drivers including
Scott Dixon,
Danica Patrick,
Graham Rahal,
Marco Andretti,
Dan Wheldon,
Dario Franchitti and
Tony Kanaan and
Ryan Briscoe. For more information on the IndyCar Series, please visit www.indycar.com.
About the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, the Speedway celebrates its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011. Tickets for the three events in 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — the Indianapolis 500, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP — can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
SOURCE Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
