Payless ShoeSource announced today that it has hired three new designers to join the
retailer's New York Design Studio team including Christopher Kittle as men's footwear design director, Michelle Frantz, accessory designer, and Chris Torres, athletic footwear designer, rounding out the company's recently formed Payless design team, which is responsible for developing original product designs supporting the retailer's seasonal collection of on-trend branded products.
   
The new designers will report to Robert Mingione, head of the Payless design team, and join Bernard Figueroa, head of women's footwear, and Michael Rugai, children's footwear designer.
   
"We are thrilled to have secured such amazing talent to join our New York design team, and we look forward to their valuable contribution to our mission to democratize fashion and design in the footwear and accessory category," said Matt Rubel, chief executive officer and president, Payless ShoeSource.
   
"Chris has significant experience, having been at Cole Haan for the past nine years with tremendous accomplishments in the dress, casual and sport categories for that brand; Michelle will bring her experience and entrepreneurial spirit, having founded her own private label accessory company, as well as styled the stars; and Chris, who comes to us from Reebok will cover our athletic footwear focusing on the Airwalk and Champion brands. We are delighted with the design talent Robert has attracted to help Payless bring forward the latest ideas in footwear and accessories to shoppers at a great price."
   
Most recently, Kittle served as men's footwear designer for Cole Haan since 1998. From 1997 to 1998, he was with Reebok International Ltd., as creative director for footwear design for the children's and classic categories. Prior, from 1996 to 1997, he was vice president of footwear design for Ralph Lauren Footwear and from 1994 to 1996 he served in the same role for Rockport Footwear. From 1987 to 1994, Kittle was with Reebok in a range of design roles, including design group leader, design director and senior designer. He started his footwear design career in the UK working with such companies as Clarks Ltd., and K Shoes Ltd. Kittle holds an honors diploma in footwear design from De Montfort University in
England.
   
From 1998 to 2005, Frantz served as founder and chief executive officer of Hand Maid by Michelle Frantz, which was acquired by Line Up Group, Inc. in April 2005. After the acquisition, Frantz served as creative director and head designer for the newly acquired business. Prior to founding her own business, she served as stylist and creative assistant at Maryam Malkapour, where she assisted to style celebrities such as Sheryl Crow and Mick Jagger. Frantz holds a bachelors degree in fine arts from the Otis/Parson's College of Art and Design, as well as a master's degree in fine arts from the University of California-Los Angeles.
   
Chris Torres has held various footwear design roles for Reebok since 2003 for the lifestyle, basketball and entertainment categories, including significant work on the Pump line. He is a 2003 graduate from the College of Creative Studies with a bachelor of fine arts in industrial design.
   
About Payless
   
Payless ShoeSource, Inc., the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, is dedicated to democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories to inspire fun fashion possibilities for the family. As of the end of the second quarter 2007, Payless operated about 4,500 stores. 
   
Payless is a business unit of Collective Brands, Inc. (NYES: PSS), the consumer-centric global footwear, accessories and lifestyle brand company, reaching customers through multiple price points and selling channels. Collective Brands, Inc. is the holding company of Payless ShoeSource, Stride Rite and Collective Licensing International.

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