FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Nov. 6, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Oakley, Inc. (NYSE:OO) today announced the release of its newly redesigned STRAIGHT JACKET(r) and MINUTE(r) 2.0 eyewear, two new products in its comprehensive line of active lifestyle designs. These latest renditions add new technologies and aggressive styling to successful designs that have proven overwhelmingly popular. Along with features that made their predecessors coveted in the world of sports, these innovative new releases include the company's Hydrophobic(tm) lens coating, as well as photochromic lens options which darken automatically in response to light.
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"Integrating sports performance technology into lifestyle eyewear, the forerunners of these styles were hugely popular so we're answering the continued demand with new editions that offer the latest innovations in optical science and art," said Oakley, Inc. President Colin Baden. "When it comes to general purpose sunglasses, style will always be a driving force in purchase decisions, but customers are opening their eyes to the fact that they can have the best in style while getting benefits achieved through decades of Oakley sports innovation. These new eyewear renditions combine the art of lifestyle fashion with the science of clarity, comfort and protection, serving everyday use with our solutions to the performance demands of world-class athletes," Baden concluded.
The new STRAIGHT JACKET(r) and MINUTE(r) 2.0 both take advantage of Oakley Hydrophobic(tm), a permanent lens coating that repels skin oils, lotions, dirt and dust. Its smudge resistance and anti-static properties work in combination with hydrophobic action that prevents water from leaving streaks and sheens which can compromise vision. In addition, customers can choose lenses that utilize photochromic technology, a benefit of Oakley's partnership with Transitions Optical. Oakley lenses that are Activated By Transitions(r) feature specially engineered colors including those that maximize visual contrast to improve depth perception in low-light environments.
Oakley's new STRAIGHT JACKET(r) eyewear is based on a highly successful frame design that originated more than a decade ago. This new edition combines aggressive styling with the unbeatable performance of High Definition Optics(r) (HDO(r)), as well as patented XYZ Optics(r) to maintain clarity at all angles of vision. Protection meets ANSI Z87.1 standards for both high-velocity and high-mass impact, and the pure Plutonite(r) lenses filter out 100% of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm. The durable, lightweight O Matter(r) frame utilizes soft Unobtainium(r) components to increase grip with perspiration, part of a Three-Point Fit that holds the lenses in precise optical alignment and offers all-day comfort.
MINUTE(r) 2.0 is a new edition of a popular sport performance frame that was specially engineered for a comfortable fit on small to medium size faces. With the patented innovations of Oakley HDO(r), it exceeds all standards of ANSI Z87.1, the industry's yardstick for optical precision. MINUTE(r) 2.0 includes premium features found in the new STRAIGHT JACKET(r), including Plutonite(r) lenses, O Matter(r) frame material, Unobtainium(r) components, UV protection, and a precise Three-Point Fit. This performance eyewear also meets all ANSI Z87.1 standards for impact protection.
In addition to photochromic lenses, customers can choose Iridium(r) lens coatings that are specially formulated to reduce glare and balance light transmission, as well as polarized lenses to optimize performance and safety in environments that threaten vision with blinding glare. Both eyewear styles can be fitted with Oakley prescription lenses that offer the benefits of HDO(r).
The new releases are part of Oakley's ELLIPSE icon family, an eyewear line focused on exceeding the limits of possibility in sport performance. As part of the company's ongoing evolution, Oakley has designated specific categories for its eyewear products. Complementing the ELLIPSE icon family, the company's SQUARE O category takes design cues from culture, music and fashion to capture the inspiration of sports professionals and bring the benefits of optical clarity and protection to active lifestyles.
About Oakley, Inc.
Oakley is a global leader in sport performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles, and prescription eyewear. Headquartered in Southern California, the company's optics brand portfolio includes Dragon, Eye Safety Systems, Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples, and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its global wholesale business, the company operates retail chains including Bright Eyes, Oakley Stores, Sunglass Icon and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.
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Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. All statements in this press release, other than those that are purely historical, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as "expect," "believe," "plan," "intend," "seek," "anticipate," "outlook," "estimate," "assume," "project," "target," "could," "will," "should," "may," and "continue," as well as variations of such words and similar expressions, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding product, retail and brand initiatives, marketing efforts, upcoming product releases, operational improvements, on-time apparel deliveries, responsiveness to retailers and consumers and the ability to drive consistent, profitable growth. The company's expectations, beliefs, anticipations, objectives, intentions, plans and strategies regarding the future are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, and actual events that occur, to differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the highly competitive markets for our products and our ability to develop innovative new products and introduce them in a timely manner; consumer acceptance of our new products and our ability to respond to changing consumer preferences; order and demand uncertainty; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; intellectual property infringement claims by others and our ability to protect our intellectual property; our dependence on key suppliers for materials we use in our products, including lens blanks; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into our operations; our dependence on athletes and personalities for the endorsement of our products; and risks associated with our international operations, including foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and the impact of quotas, tariffs, or other restrictions on the importation or exportation of our products. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in any forward-looking statement are discussed in more detail under "Risk Factors," "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as well as similar disclosures in the company's subsequent SEC filings. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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