Airwalk® Partners With Punk Rock Band Polar Bear Club
Airwalk.com Offers Free Download of Band Track
(Englewood, CO) May 8, 2012 – Global youth lifestyle brand Airwalk announced today its partnership with punk rock group Polar Bear Club. The upstate New York band will endorse Airwalk footwear and be featured in the music portion of Airwalk’s annual ad campaign.
To kick-off the new partnership, Polar Bear Club is offering a free download of “Close Knit,” courtesy of Bridge Nine Records. The free track will be available at www.airwalk.com/blog/polar-bear-club for two weeks starting today, May 8.
“We’re a brand rooted in board sports, but Airwalk is involved in so many other arenas of youth culture, including music,” said Eric Dreyer, VP of Brand Management for Collective Licensing International, the company that owns and manages the Airwalk brand. “The band’s passion for creating their own sound and finding their unique niche within punk music is what makes them amazing musicians and brand-right for Airwalk. These guys are on the verge of a serious breakthrough, and we’re excited to be along for that ride.”
Since its inception in 1986, Airwalk has been dedicated to supporting the music community. From its Unsigned Hero competition (a viral contest where fans could vote for their favorite artists online), to the brand’s involvement with the AP Tour, Airwalk has always focused support on the new faces in the music scene.
“As an up-and-coming band, partnering with a brand like Airwalk that has been around for decades is truly an honor,” said singer and front man Jimmy Stadt. “Needless to say, we are stoked to join the Airwalk family.”
Formed in 2005 in upstate New York, Polar Bear Club is comprised of Stadt (vocals), Chris Browne (guitar), Nate Morris (guitar) and Erik Henning (bass). The band signed to Bridge Nine Records in 2009, and that same year was named to Alternative Press magazine’s “Most Anticipated” list. The distinction led to a spot on the 2010 AP Tour and being featured on the cover of the magazine. Last September, the band released its third full-length album Clash Battle Guilt Pride. The record was featured on Billboard's Top 200 and was supported with world tours, as the band opened for acts Rise Against and The Wonder Years. This summer, Polar Bear Club will play the entire 43-stop Warped Tour.
Polar Bear Club will also be featured in Airwalk’s annual ad campaign. The ads will run in select fall issues of SPIN and Alternative Press magazines.
For more information about Airwalk, visit www.airwalk.com.
For more information about Polar Bear Club, visit www.myspace.com/polarbearclub.
About Collective Licensing International
Collective Licensing International, LLC, a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE:PSS), was formed in January 2004 and is the owner and/or license operator of Airwalk®, Above The Rim®, Vision Street Wear®, Clinch Gear™, STRIKEFORCE™, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD®, World Snowboarding Championships™ and Hind®. Collective Licensing International is based in Englewood, Colorado. http://www.collectiveintl.com/
About Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its 4,160-store retail chain, with its brands Airwalk®, Dexter® and Champion® and designer collections by fashion designers Christian Siriano, Lela Rose, Isabel Toledo and Silvia Tcherassi; Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group, focused on lifestyle and performance branded footwear and high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider® Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk®, Above The Rim®, Vision Street Wear®, STRIKEFORCE™, Clinch Gear™, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD®, World Snowboarding Championships™ and Hind®. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.