Charles River Apparel Increases Workforce by More Than 40%

SHARON, MA--(Marketwire - October 19, 2009) - Charles River Apparel, a leading manufacturer of innovative active wear, today announced that the company has increased staff at its Sharon-based headquarters by more than 40% in recent months, with the addition of 20 new employees in virtually every department, including sales, production, embroidery, IT and customer service. One of the reasons for Charles River Apparel's recent expansion is an increase in corporate orders, which is a positive barometer for the recovering economy. The company also plans to continue hiring in the months ahead.

Charles River Apparel is a true business success story, having been profitable every year since its inception in 1983. Despite the tough economy, the company recently relocated its operations to Sharon, Massachusetts to accommodate its growing staff -- and to allow for further growth. Its new headquarters are more than double the size of its previous facility, offering two football fields' worth of warehouse space.

"We are very fortunate to be experiencing growth in our business, and are proud to bring jobs back to our community," said Barry Lipsett, president of Charles River Apparel. "We take tremendous pride in our company and are pleased to welcome these new additions to the Charles River Apparel family, and look forward to adding even more people in the months ahead."

The family-owned business is also committed to supporting the community it works in, and is nationally recognized for its philanthropic work on behalf of breast cancer research. Charles River Apparel's "Be Pink Proud" line of active wear clothing was designed to support breast cancer research, with a portion of sales from the line donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and several other non-profit cancer research and support organizations. Charles River also donates thousands of jackets and pants each year to support charitable organizations, schools and athletic teams nationwide. Over the past 25 years, the company has received many regional awards and recognition of efforts in support of a variety of non-profit organizations.

For more information, please contact Charles River Apparel at custserv@charlesriverapparel.com.

About Charles River Apparel

Charles River Apparel is a leading manufacturer of innovative active wear for a variety of markets. Since its inception more than a quarter of a century ago, New England-based Charles River Apparel has been recognized for the quality, style, performance and value of its apparel, and the high level of its customer service. The company's award-winning in-house design team incorporates the latest materials and technology into its designs to deliver a line that is notable for its appeal, versatility, and long-lasting wearability. Charles River Apparel sells through more than 13,000 distributors nationwide. For more information, visit www.charlesriverapparel.com.

Contact Information: For more information, contact: SVM Public Relations Jill Colna or Jordan Devita 401-490-9700 jill.colna@svmpr.com jordan.devita@svmpr.com