New York– April 27, 2010–Polarn O. Pyret, the premium children’s wear brand from Sweden, has named golf legend Annika Sörenstam its “Mama of the Year” in the United States.
“We feel Annika truly embodies the spirit of the Polarn O. Pyret values here in America,” said Jennifer Athanson, U.S. master franchiser for Polarn O. Pyret. “Our philosophy is designing children’s wear that promotes the spirit of play. We want to honor Annika’s dedication to leading a healthy, active lifestyle and her willingness to give back to the community. Her commitment towards her new role as ‘mom’ is an inspiring one that we want to recognize. ”
Sörenstam is best known for her storied sports career. Her success has changed how women’s golf is played, covered and viewed, and in her rise to mainstream athlete and celebrity, she has had a positive impact on all women’s sports. She stepped away from professional golf in 2008 to spend more time focusing on family and her business endeavors.
Born in Sweden, she credits her parents for helping her nurture her love of sports. She spent a great deal of time outside and her parents placed a special emphasis on the right clothing for the right weather and activities. “I believe outdoor play is very important for a child’s development. Unfortunately, it seems to be rare nowadays for different reasons,” Sörenstam said. Her devotion to this is exemplified by the mission of her non-profit organization the ANNIKA Foundation which teaches children the importance of being active and living a healthy lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. “Now as a mom, I will definitely teach my daughter the importance of being outside, playing games and staying active. I look forward to sharing those times with Ava.”
For more than 30 years, Polarn O. Pyret has been designing some of Sweden’s best children’s clothing for both indoor and outdoor play. In fact, Sörenstam grew up wearing Polarn O. Pyret in Sweden and is excited to pass along a bit of Swedish tradition to her daughter. Year after year, the collection is designed to be worn and loved by children and parents. The company’s commitment to quality, customer service and its values is what has made it above par in the children’s clothing industry for two generations.
Only recently launched in the US last year, Polarn O. Pyret has been great plays in the children’s fashion arena. “Polarn O. Pyret is not just about selling clothing,” Athanason said. “We believe it is vital for children to be given the chance to just be children. We want to instill the importance of play and the spirit of fun for both kids and parents.”
About Polarn O. Pyret
Polarn O. Pyret is a premium children’s wear brand from Sweden, always identifiable by its iconic stripes. The company has designed highly functional quality clothing since the start in 1976 and with the same philosophy: Children need clothes that they can play in and freely wear wherever they are and in whatever weather. The company has more than 100 stores across Europe as well as an online store in the United States since 2009. It is the fastest growing children’s clothing company in Scandinavia and aims to further expand globally. The Polarn O. Pyret concept is owned by RNB Retail and Brands, listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm MidCap. For more information, please visit www.polarnopyret.com.
About Annika
Annika is the greatest female golfer of our generation and often regarded as the best of all-time. During her 15-year Hall of Fame career, she rewrote the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed, and covered. She amassed 89 worldwide professional victories, including 72 LPGA wins, ten of which are Major Championships. Annika stepped away from professional golf after the 2008 season to focus on her family and the ANNIKA brand of businesses, including the ANNIKA Academy, ANNIKA Financial Group, ANNIKA Course Design, the ANNIKA Collection of apparel with Cutter & Buck, signature high-end wines with Wente Vineyards, a fragrance with SA Fragrances, and an online retail shop, shopannika.com. In 2007, Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation as a way to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. In 2008, Annika joined Arnold Palmer as only the second Ambassador of the United States Golf Association, and in 2009, along with Jack Nicklaus, she was named a Global Ambassador by the International Golf Federation and aided in the successful bid for golf in the 2016 Olympic Games. More information can be found at www.annikasorenstam.com.
Contact:
Linda Kerr
Social Media Marketing
lkerr@polarnopyretusa.com
571-294-6435
Jennifer Athanason
U.S. Master Franchisor for Polarn O. Pyret
jathanason@polarnopyretusa.com
914-777-0044
Elizabeth Benz
Brener Zwikel and Associates (on behalf of Annika)
elizabethb@bzapr.com
212-708-3329
