K-SWISS Launches its First Global Free Running Product Collection and Signs Sebastien Foucan, the Founding Father of Free Running

K-SWISS Launches its First Global Free Running Product Collection and Signs Sebastien Foucan, the Founding Father of Free Running

July 11, 2007

    WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 11 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- K-SWISS, the brand who introduced the first all-leather
tennis shoe, is at the heels of another innovation -- FREE
RUNNING.  FREE RUNNING -- the art of moving through your
environment using only your body and the surroundings to
propel yourself -- is a sport without boundaries.  It can
be practiced anywhere, alone or with a group, and all you
need for equipment is the right pair of shoes.  K-Swiss is
setting a new standard and introducing its first FREE
RUNNING shoe, the Ariake. 

    ( Photo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070710/NYTU014-a 
             
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070710/NYTU014-b )

    To accomplish this goal K-Swiss is partnering with the
founding father of FREE RUNNING, Sebastien Foucan. Best
known for his role in "Casino Royale," he can be
seen leaping and bounding with James Bond at the start of
the film. Sebastien started practicing FREE RUNNING over 18
years ago and is incredibly passionate about the sport.  It
allows him to combine the physical and emotional forces of
mind, body, and environment.  The partnership with K-Swiss
will enable him to virally spread the word about his
passion and open the doors for K-Swiss to become a global
leader and sponsor for the sport.  Sebastien Foucan says,
"I am thrilled to collaborate with K-Swiss to inspire
others to express themselves through the art of FREE
RUNNING.  This partnership gives me a platform to educate
people about my discipline." Sebastien will
collaborate with K-Swiss on product, print and television
advertising, a documentary, and a website about FREE
RUNNING. 

    Jennifer Weiderman, VP of Marketing for K-Swiss, notes,
"Sebastien is the perfect choice as our ambassador for
FREE RUNNING.  His knowledge, passion, and expertise will
help us to be true to the sport."  According to David
Nichols, Executive Vice President, "We are excited
about creating great product for the innovative movement of
FREE RUNNING and cannot think of anyone better to work with
than its pioneer, Sebastien Foucan."

    Over the past year K-Swiss also has been closely
working with Mark Toorock, American Parkour founder and
leader of the TRIBE, on product development to ensure
authenticity and will continue to do so in the future.  In
addition, K-SWISS has partnered with FREE RUNNING groups in
Europe and Asia.  

    For more information on K-SWISS, FREE RUNNING, PARKOUR,
SEBASTIEN FOUCAN, OR ARIAKE, visit http://www.k-swiss.com . 



    For more information, please contact:

     Tara Clavell-Vera
     Tel:  [phone]

     Jennifer Macfarland, K-SWISS
     Tel:  [phone]