Payless Acquisition to Strengthen Athletic Brand Model

Payless ShoeSource will acquire longtime licensee Collective International as a way of building its youth lifestyle and fashion athletic brand model. Under the agreement, Collective will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Payless under the leadership of CEO and President Bruce Pettet. Payless has been a licensee of the Airwalk brand since 2003 and features the brand on a range of footwear and accessories. Other brands under the Collective International umbrella include: Vision Street Wear, Sims, Lamar, LTD, genetic, Dukes, Rage, Ultra-Wheels, and Skate Attack.