Russell Corporation Announces Growth Partner for Spalding in Japan

Russell Corporation Announces Growth Partner for Spalding in
Japan 


ATLANTA, Feb. 3  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Russell Corporation (NYSE:RML)
announced today that it has entered into a master licensing agreement with
Itochu Fashion System Co., Ltd. for the development of the Spalding brand in
Japan.  The five-year agreement includes all facets of brand building, from
product development to distribution, and includes channels of distribution from
large scale sporting goods stores to suburban specialty shops.

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According to Scott Creelman, president of Spalding, "As sports become an
increasingly instrumental fixture of contemporary life, we believe that Itochu
Fashion System Co. can certainly further heighten our stature as a sporting
brand.  Itochu has a reputation for building brands and developing business
that is second to none in Japan. They understand that sports now involve not
only people engaged in them, but lifestyles that encompass sports on a variety
of levels including spectators."

"With the mounting concern about wellness in recent years, sports have come to
be regarded as an integral part of a health lifestyle.  They have also evolved
into a key theme in the fashion field.  As such, the world of sports is
expanding its borders even further.  For example, this year will see the birth
of the 'bj League,' Japan's first professional basketball league. Spalding is
committed to spreading the new spirit in all of its doings," said Junji Miyake,
president of Itochu Fashion System.

About Russell Corporation

Russell Corporation is a leading branded athletic and sporting goods company
with over a century of success in marketing athletic uniforms, apparel and
equipment for a wide variety of sports, outdoor and fitness activities. The
Company's major brands include Russell Athletic(R), JERZEES(R), Spalding(R),
and Brooks(R).  The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol RML and its website address is
http://www.russellcorp.com/ . 

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DATASOURCE: Russell Corporation



CONTACT:  Financial, Roger Holliday, [phone], or Media, Nancy

Young, [phone], both of Russell Corporation



Web site:  http://www.russellcorp.com/ 

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