(GOLDEN, CO) TARE7 announces a strategic partnership with Seattle-based Shah Safari, Inc., and the ALPHANUMERIC brand. Under the agreement, TARE7 will license and develop a new ALPHANUMERIC footwear line to debut for the Back to School 2003 season. In return, Shah Safari will enter into a joint venture with T7 and be responsible for design, development, sourcing and production of the skate, lifestyle, and snow outerwear apparel lines for TARE7's flagship airwalk brand.

"We are incredibly enthusiastic about the alliance between TARE7 and ALPHANUMERICT, a recognized leader with incredible brand equity in the skate lifestyle marketplace," said Bruce Pettet, president and CEO of TARE7. "ALPHANUMERIC makes perfect sense and fills a unique niche under TARE7's structure as a proven leader in the skate market. We will follow ALPHANUMERIC's unique styling direction and focused distribution in core skate shops."

"TARE7 brings a solid company foundation, incredible design expertise and valuable resources to the table that will allow us to offer unique and innovative footwear that speaks to the purity of the ALPHANUMERIC brand," said Akhil Shah, President of Shah Safari, Inc. "We have confidence that this alliance will provide our organization with an incredible growth opportunity."

Founded in January 2001, TARE7 is headed up by president and CEO Bruce Pettet who adds ALPHANUMERIC to TARE7's portfolio of leading-edge action sports brands including airwalk -- one of the original action sports brands and a mainstay in the action sports industry since 1986 - as well as genetic and ripzone. ALPHANUMERIC was founded by apparel industry veterans Raj and Akhil Shah of Shah Safari, Inc. who are renowned in the retail and wholesale sectors of the apparel industry for continually defining the future direction of the Young Men's Sportswear market.

Shah Safari, Inc., a global innovative fashion and apparel company, was founded by Raj and Akhil Shah in 1975. The Shah's other corporations like International News, design, produce and distribute several apparel brands including ALPHANUMERIC, MECCA USA, RAW EDGE, PNB, REACTOR+, and PUNCH APPAREL.

TARE7 has a vision to lead and inspire the action sports industry through its airwalk(R), geneticT, ALPHANUMERICT and ripzoneÔ brands. Founded in 1986 as the leader in marketing, sales and manufacturing of action sports and youth lifestyle products, the company's airwalk brand remains recognized as the industry original. The ALPHANUMERICT brand, through its innovation and unique styling, defines the future direction in youth fashion and apparel. ripzone is well known in the Canadian and Japanese snowboard and action sports markets as an outstanding apparel brand capturing the essence of lifestyle. airwalk(R) and genetic are registered marks of TARE7. ALPHANUMERICT is a registered mark of Shah Safari and International News. ripzone is the registered mark of RMP International. All endorsements of airwalk and genetic products by pro team athletes are compensated by TARE7. All rights reserved ©2002.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff