For further information contact:
Katie McClish — 513.287.1851 kmcclish@northlich.com
Emily Rechter — 513.762.1989 erechter@northlich.com

totes»ISOTONER® Introduces New Eco-Friendly Products.
Breakthrough Umbrellas, Slippers, Gloves and Knits Made from Recycled Materials

CINCINNATI, OH – February 5, 2008 – totes»ISOTONER announced today the introduction of a new, breakthrough line of earth-friendly umbrellas, slippers, gloves and knits – proving further that “green” truly is the “new black.” The new lines are called “ecosentials™” for the Isotoner offerings and “eco ‘brella™” for the totes environmentally responsible umbrella. The ‘brella and slipper product lines launch in early spring and will be offered online at totes-Isotoner.com and in fine department stores. The cold weather products including gloves and knits will be available online and in stores this fall.

The products offer a variety of earth-friendly attributes, including an umbrella canopy made of 100 percent recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, ecosentials gloves that have the look and feel of nylon but are made of 100 percent recycled polyester from PET plastic bottles and bamboo blend terry slippers, among many other offerings.

Why Green, Why Now
“We found a great way to create fashionable products that incorporate recycled and renewable materials and are in keeping with our principles of comfort, quality and performance,” said Michael Katz, totes»ISOTONER Senior Vice President, U.S. Wholesale Division.

Product Offerings and Availability
Products in the new eco-friendly line come in a variety of colors and styles for both men and women (see attached product fact sheets for a complete list of colors, pricing and eco details). The items range in price from $16.99 to $48. Products in the line include:

  • The Auto Open/Close eco ‘brella – which has a canopy made of 100 recycled PET plastic bottles, frame parts made of 70 percent recycled metals and plastics and a bamboo handle.
  • The Ecosentials Packable Sport Glove – which has a shell with the look and feel of nylon, but is made of 100 percent recycled PET plastic bottles and has a100 percent recycled polyester lining.
  • The Ecosentials Stretch Fleece Commuter Glove (lined and unlined) – which is made of 94 percent recycled polyester and six percent Lycra®.
  • The Ecosentials Bamboo Stretch Knit Glove – which is made of 95 percent viscose from bamboo and five percent Lycra®.
  • The Ecosentials Knit Coordinates – which are made of 100 percent viscose from bamboo.

The ‘brella and slipper product lines will be offered in March online at totes-Isotoner.com and in fine department stores including select Macy’s, Sears, Bon Ton, Boscov’s and Mervyn's. The cold weather products including gloves and knits will be available this fall online at totes-Isotoner.com and in fine department stores.

Important Recycling Facts

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, today, the U.S. recycles 32.5 percent of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during the past 15 years. While recycling has grown in general, recycling of specific materials has grown even more drastically, including:

  • 52 percent of all paper
  • 31 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles
  • 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans

While the rate of recycling is increasing, the consumption of bottled water has also risen dramatically. According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC), while the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976, in 2006 each person consumed 28.3 gallons of bottled water. Typically, plastic bottles go to landfills and take 700 years before they start to decompose.

For more information on totes»ISOTONER’s eco ‘brella and ecosentials family of products visit totes-isotoner.com.

About totes»ISOTONER
totes»ISOTONER Corporation, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the world's largest marketer of umbrellas, gloves, slippers, and other weather-related accessories. totes»ISOTONER has over 1,000 employees and, in addition to Cincinnati, has offices in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Manila. In 1997, totes and ISOTONER merged to form the totes»ISOTONER Corporation. The company, which is owned by private equity firm MidOcean Partners (midoceanpartners.com), offers quality products from two of the most recognized apparel brand names in the country. Visit http://www.totes-isotoner.com/ for more information.

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