Christian Siriano, Well Known as Project Runway’s Season Four Winner, and Payless ShoeSource, Sign Deal for Exclusive Designer Footwear Label Available Only at Payless

TOPEKA, Kan., Dec. 1 / — Payless ShoeSource announced today that it has signed a deal with fashion designer Christian Siriano, who launched his career when he won season four of Bravo’s Project Runway reality fashion series. After presenting his first stand-alone collection for Spring 2009 to critical acclaim during New York Fashion Week this past September, Siriano will now expand to create the Christian Siriano for Payless designer label — his first-ever footwear and handbag collection.

The new collection will be unveiled at Siriano’s runway show at New York Fashion Week next February and then exclusively available in Payless stores and Payless.com in fall ’09.

“Christian is among the next great American fashion designers, and we are thrilled to continue to expand the Payless Designer Collections and to add Christian as our newest designer partner,” said LuAnn Via, president and chief executive officer of Payless ShoeSource. “His talent, experience and personality provide a winning combination, and we are excited to see his designs come alive on the runway next February and to bring them to shoppers across America next fall season.”

Since his Project Runway fame, Siriano has gone on to build his label, Christian Siriano, with a strong celebrity following including Victoria Beckham, Anne Hathaway, Heidi Klum, Becki Newton and Vanessa Williams, among others.

The deal covers multi-season collections including footwear and handbags for women. Price points are expected to be in the $25 – $45 range.

“I’m so excited to design and create with such an amazing brand that is all about fashion and trend but, most importantly, is also about affordability,” said Siriano. “I’ve already been working with the Payless Design Team in New York, and I can’t wait to see how they will take the high- end shoes and bags I’m designing for the runway and turn them into pieces that everyone can buy. I’m all about the runway and the sidewalks!”