Freestyle Forever!; Reebok Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of One of the Most Successful Women's Footwear Collections of All Time -- the Freestyle



    An iconic "must-have" of the 1980's pop culture scene, the Reebok
    Freestyle will forever go down in history as the athletic shoe that
    changed the face of women's fitness. Twenty-five years later, the
    Reebok Freestyle remains one of the best selling shoes of all time. To
    commemorate the 25th anniversary, Reebok kicks off "Freestyle
    Forever," an exclusive event to launch the new 25th Anniversary
    Freestyle Collection and to celebrate the brightest moments in
    Freestyle history, both then and now. The star-studded, invite-only,
    celebration takes place on March 1st in New York City.

    Debuting with the 25 Candles Freestyle to commemorate the exciting
    25th birthday, the 2007 Freestyle collection will also feature six
    limited-edition Freestyles varying from authentic bringbacks to
    modern-day artist collaborations. Beginning in March 2007, the
    footwear will be available on www.rbk.com and at select boutiques
    around the world for a suggested price range of $65-$150.

    "Reebok is passionate about debuting the 25th Anniversary
    Freestyle Collection because the shoe represents our history as the
    brand that pioneered the women's fitness movement and started the
    high-top fashion trend," said Reebok's Chief Marketing Officer, Uli
    Becker. "Today, fashion is about freedom of expression and keeping it
    real. Back in the '80s, the Freestyle was worn by women who wanted to
    make a statement about their authenticity and individuality, and that
    still holds true today."

    One of the first athletic shoes created especially for women, the
    original Reebok Freestyle symbolized female empowerment. After
    revolutionizing the industry and igniting the women's aerobics dance
    craze in 1982, the Freestyle made up more than half of the sales for
    Reebok in 1984. In 1986, Reebok launched the ad campaign "Life Is Not
    a Spectator Sport." Highlighting the Freestyle, the campaign
    encouraged women to become active participants in the world of
    fitness. This message strongly resonated and gained an astounding
    following of trendy young female consumers of the time. The
    groundbreaking ad coupled with top celebrity endorsements, including
    model Cindy Crawford, singer Paula Abdul and most notably the
    appearance of iconic actress Cybill Shepherd wearing a bright orange
    pair at the 1985 Emmy Awards, solidified the Freestyle's status as a
    key fashion item.

    Today, the Reebok Freestyle is worn by female fashion leaders
    around the world, from the bustling city streets to suburban high
    schools. With the '80s style continuing to surge ahead, the milestone
    anniversary Freestyle collection is perfectly on trend for today's
    global fashionista.

    Celebrities from the past and present alike appreciate the
    pioneering spirit the Reebok Freestyle exudes. Even those stars too
    young to have worn the original Freestyles back in the day, recognize
    the impact the collection has had on today's modern fashion.

    "The '80s style is so fun and colorful, I love how the trend in
    still alive today with big earrings, bright oversize tops and most
    importantly shoes like the Reebok Freestyle," said global tennis
    phenom Nicole Vaidisova. "I love the classic high-top design and they
    look great with jeans."

    In March 2007, Reebok will launch the Freestyle microsite
    accessible on www.rbk.com. On the site, visitors will have the
    exclusive chance to be among the first to purchase new Freestyles as
    soon as they are released. In addition, consumers may view footage
    from the 25th anniversary launch event, learn more about the history
    of the collection and will be able to take part in exciting
    promotions.

    Reebok International, based in Canton, Massachusetts, is a leading
    worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and
    casual footwear, apparel and equipment. A subsidiary of the adidas
    Group, the company operates under the Reebok, CCM, Jofa, and Koho
    brands. For more information, visit Reebok at www.rbk.com.