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IRL: Haddad Apparel, Jones and Mitchell sign agreement with Indianapolis Motor Speedway

13 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Text provided by IMS

Clothing for adults, children to be at forefront of sportswear fashion

INDIANAPOLIS- IMS Properties, the retail merchandising arm of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, has signed licensing agreements with childrens apparel manufacturer Haddad Apparel Group and the fashion-oriented Jones & Mitchell Sportswear, known for its innovative clothing designs targeting younger demographics.

Haddad will create a line of apparel, accessories, footwear and headwear for children featuring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League brands, plus a number of Indy Racing League sponsors. The line will be distributed to retailers in the United States and Canada starting in fall 2000.

"Haddad is thrilled about our newest brand and partner, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," said Sam Haddad, vice president of Haddad Apparel Group. "We are very excited to be a part of the Indy Racing League and its sponsors, and look forward to developing this new relationship."

Haddad is a family-owned and operated company founded in 1947. In addition to the Speedway, Haddad counts Avirex, Harley-Davidson, Blues Clues, Pokemon, the National Football League and National Basketball Association among its many licensing partners.

Jones & Mitchell will produce vintage, retro and womens Indianapolis Motor Speedway apparel. The line capitalizes on the rich history of the Speedway, built in 1909, and the Indianapolis 500, an American sports icon since its inaugural running in 1911.

Jones & Mitchell is very successful in college retail markets because it is quick to embrace new fashion trends, said Nicole Polsky, Indianapolis Motor Speedway licensing manager.

"They separate themselves because their products are fashion-driven, which gives them greater appeal and increases sales potential," Polsky said. "Jones & Mitchell sees enormous opportunity in marrying current fashion trends and the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway." Genuine Speedway and Indy 500 artwork scanned directly from patches, credentials and official track insignias housed at the Speedways Hall of Fame Museum will adorn Jones & Mitchell sportswear carrying logos, distressed prints and claims of authenticity.

"Apparel with a historic tone has become extremely popular with youthful retailers, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is very fortunate in that we have one of the richest histories in American sports to draw from," said Dave Moroknek, director of licensing and consumer products for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Our new agreements with Haddad and Jones & Mitchell will help us push the IMS and Indy Racing brands into new markets, making our products appealing to a wider range of sports fans, not just motorsports fans.

"We look forward to great relationships with both companies."

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.