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Copyright 1998 Information Access Company,
a Thomson Corporation Company;
ASAP
Copyright 1998 Capital Cities Media Inc.
WWD

September 28, 1998

SECTION: No. 193, Vol. 175; Pg. 10; ISSN: 0149-5380

IAC-ACC-NO: 21181045

LENGTH: 199 words

HEADLINE: NIKE'S UNDER LINE; to sell sports bras and briefs for women

BODY:
NIKE'S UNDER LINE: Innerwear is an important component of Nike's aggressive expansion plans, according to Gordon Thompson, who was promoted to corporate vice president and creative director for the Nike brand earlier this month.

After three years of research and development, Nike unveiled Thursday a group of support sports bras and briefs at its New York showroom.

This category should be instrumental in building Nike's women's business, since many athletic-oriented women become familiar with active brands by buying sports bras first, Thompson said.

The collection, which has been developed in conjunction with the VF Intimates coalition of VF Corp., will be rolled out at retail next fall. Nike expects to finalize the licensing deal with VF within 30 days.

With its new innerwear, Nike is expected to face off against Champion JogBra and Warnaco's Speedo sports bras.

Nike innerwear has adjustable straps, varying lengths, mesh liners and loose-fitting leg bands -- uncommon features in athletic-oriented bras and briefs.

In addition to traditional bras and briefs, there are boy-leg briefs, tanks, key-hole sports bras with mesh backs and bike-shorts-length briefs.

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

IAC-CREATE-DATE: October 5, 1998

LOAD-DATE: October 06, 1998