Bongo, a division of Candie's, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAND) announced today their new partnership with Lava/Atlantic Records Recording Artist, Willa Ford. The brand is continuing their association with female recording artists for its fourth consecutive season. Bongo will feature the "I Wanna Be Bad" pop singer, Willa Ford in its new Spring and Fall 2002 print and internet advertising campaigns. The Spring campaign is due to break in March issues of fashion, entertainment and lifestyle magazines.

"Willa Was Here," the successful debut from 20-year-old Willa Ford, is as entertaining and sexy as the talented young singer whose name it bears. The urban-influenced dancepop tracks reveal an artist with extraordinary confidence, not to mention an enormously soulful singing voice.

The spring creative features Willa Ford perched against a 1969, yellow Mustang detailed with red flames wearing Bongo footwear, apparel and accessories. The print ads will break in March issues of fashion, entertainment and lifestyle magazines, such as YM, Teen People and Seventeen. The new campaign was created by the in-house advertising team in collaboration with Long Island based agency, InMarketing and shot by famed fashion photographer Mike Ruiz.

"This creative is a little edgier than Bongo's past campaigns, which have featured music sensations, Mya, Wild Orchid and Hoku in a more moderate atmosphere," stated Gary Bader, President of Bongo Apparel. "It will be interesting to see what kind of reactions and sale results we receive. We are ecstatic about the relationship we have developed with Willa, she is the perfect vehicle to reach our demographic."

www.bongo.com will host a live chat with Willa Ford where registered users can ask anything they want of the bad girl. Willa will be on hand for a number of special in-store appearances in major markets. The company is using the images on packaging, exclusive point of sales materials and is finalizing outdoor sights for billboards.

The Bongo brand, which is owned by Michael Caruso & Co., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Candie's, Inc., ("Candie's") is a leader in the design and marketing of young women's fashion footwear, apparel and accessories. Bongo jeans and apparel are manufactured and sold through Candie's joint venture, Unzipped Apparel LLC. The brand is distributed to better department and specialty stores






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