Passport Brands names Robert Arnot as President

Mr. Arnot's executive career has included serving as Vice President of Denim at Perry Ellis International, CEO of U.S. designer brand Robert Graham and more than 10 years as CEO of Passport Brands (formerly, I.C. Isaacs & Co.). At I.C. Isaacs & Co. (Passport Brands), Arnot directed the growth of the Boss jeans brand from inception in 1990 to sales of $120 million in 1997. He also spearheaded the re-launch of Marithe & Francois Girbaud jeanswear brand in the U.S. in 1998, generating sales of $235 million from mid-1998 through 2002.

Mr. Arnot commented, "I am thrilled to again be associated with Marithe + Francois Girbaud, the most creative and inspiring designers in the industry. With the strategic initiatives we have in place, I look forward to being part of restoring Girbaud to prominence. Marithe and Francois are not only icons in the history of jeans wear but are also living legends that continue breaking new ground each season. Girbaud is created for people who want to wear something different and fresh, combining functionality with sophisticated sensibilities."

Marc Goldberg, Vice President of Sales at Passport Brands, commented, "After recently attending the Liberty Show in Las Vegas, NV, it is clear that market interest in the Marithe + Francois Girbaud brand remains high. Many people hold a spot in their hearts for Girbaud; remembering it as their first fashionable jean."

Girbaud, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, is widely credited with introducing faded denim washes in the 1970s -- including stone wash, sanding and whiskering. In the 1980s, the brand contributed to the development of the baggy jean. More recently, Girbaud has partnered with Jenologia to create the environmentally friendly "Watt Wash - G2." This advanced industrial approach utilizes ozone and lasers (air and light) to create worn and distressed looking jeans while saving 98% of the water used in the traditional denim washing techniques.

Passport Brands, Inc.

Passport Brands, Inc (formerly IC Isaacs) is a designer, merchandiser and marketer of the Marithe + Francois Girbaud designer brand under licenses for men's and women's apparel in the U.S. and Canada. In the future, the Company may look to acquire other niche brands in higher end categories and consumer segments through a combination of their internal merchandising and marketing skills and its financial and logistics partnership with Samsung.

Passport Brands