Earlier this year, Aerie announced the #AerieREAL Change Initiative program, giving grants to Changemakers to help them on their journey in making the world a better place. This week, Aerie granted 20 advocates $20,000 each to help foster their many ideas for changing the world. From building libraries to researching breakthroughs in women’s health, they’re making space for girls that keep it REAL and push humanity forward.

To read more about each Changemaker, including their initiative of focus, head to the Aerie Real Life blog.

AEO Inc. is very proud to congratulate Noel Spiegel, Lead Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee on being named one of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Top 100  for 2020! The annual listing honors the most influential individuals in corporate governance who exemplify knowledge, leadership, and excellence.

“Noel has been a valuable member of the AEO Inc. Board of Directors for many years. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in our success and we look forward to benefiting from Noel’s thoughtful insights as we position the company for continued growth,” said Jay Schottenstein, Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. “Noel’s commitment to excellence helps to strengthen AEO’s business, culture and purpose.”

Noel has served as a Director of the AEO Inc. since June 2011 and provides expertise in public company accounting, disclosure and financial system management to the Board and as Chair of the Audit Committee. Noel was a partner at Deloitte & Touche, LLP until his retirement in May 2010. In his more than 40 year career at Deloitte, he served in numerous management positions, including Deputy Managing Partner, member of the Executive Committee, and Partner-in-Charge of Audit Operations in Deloitte’s New York Office Managing Partner, among other leadership roles.

“Courage, excellence, and exemplary leadership in the boardroom are as important today as they have ever been―and even more so as companies face an unwavering succession of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Peter R. Gleason, NACD CEO. “This year’s honorees have positively earned the recognition that these awards offer. Not only have they served their boards and the governance community well, but they have also provided inspirational examples of what effective, purposeful, and accountable governance during difficult, exceptional times truly means.”

Honorees will be recognized in the November/December issue of NACD Directorship magazine, on the NACD Directorship 100 website, and during the Virtual NACD Summit 2020 on October 12.

Today is the 55^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In honor of one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history, American Eagle is launching This Is Our Time, a campaign mobilizing customers and associates to register to vote in the upcoming 2020 election. The initiative is in partnership with HeadCount, a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register young people to vote and participate in democracy.

AE will also be selling limited edition This is Our Time tees. Tees come with markers to share custom messages and 100% of proceeds of tee sales will benefit HeadCount.

Customers are encouraged to visit AE’s Vote 2020 action center to register to vote, sign up for election reminders, and learn about ways to make a difference!

By Madeline Stone | Link to article

American Eagle Outfitters is adding another brand to its collection.

Offline by Aerie (stylized as OFFL/NE) is an activewear brand with pieces suited for both exercise and leisure. It will be a sub-brand of Aerie, American Eagle Outfitters’ popular underwear and loungewear brand.

The brand launches online on Monday with a collection of leggings, bike shorts, tops, sports bras, fleece, bottoms, and accessories. Prices range from $15.95 to $64.95.

The company also plans to open two Offline stores by the end of 2020, though it has not yet disclosed where those stores will be located.

The launch comes at a time when many Americans continue to work and study at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Health and wellness have always been at the core of Aerie’s mission as we’ve led the body positivity movement, inspiring and empowering women around the world to feel confident inside and out,” Jen Foyle, Aerie’s global brand president, said in a press release. “OFFLINE’s unique take on active lifestyle products celebrates REAL life when some days you feel like you can take on the world and other days you need that extra push to get off the couch.”

Offline is the second new retail concept that American Eagle Outfitters has launched this summer. At the end of June, it opened a single-location concept called Unsubscribed in East Hampton, New York.

Unsubscribed’s selection is focused on comfort, with products in its private label including silk dresses, distressed oxford button-downs, cashmere sweaters, lightweight jersey tops, and 100% recycled nylon swimwear. The store is also stocking items from third-party designers including LemLem, Boyish Jeans, A. Shirt. Story, and Indego Africa.

American Eagle Outfitters also owns its namesake American Eagle brand in addition to Aerie and Todd Snyder.

It’s meant to inspires us to slow down and take a minute for ourselves.

By Dara Prant | Link to article

Aerie continues to be anomaly in a fairly gloomy retail sector. At a time when most brands are scaling back or shutting down completely, the intimates retailer is launching a new sub-brand, called OFFLINE™, to satisfy all your comfy activewear cravings.

OFFLINE™, which drops online on Monday, is an evolution and expansion of the brand’s Chill.Play.Move. range, which marked Aerie’s foray into athleisure four years ago. Its updated off-duty sartorial offering is designed to remind you to slow down and take time for yourself — think cozy cotton separates that you can wear while enjoying your morning cup of coffee or during an at-home yoga session.

“Aerie has always been about being real and true to who you are,” says Aerie Global Brand President Jennifer Foyle. “We have always engaged with our customers in an authentic way, empowering them to feel confident and love their real selves. Our strong community, who makes up our DNA, has come to know us for these core values and our incredibly soft, cozy and comfortable product. We are always looking for new opportunities to expand and grow our brand, and OFFL/NE by Aerie is just that.”

Highlights from the collection include the OG Legging, a super-soft, no frills style that’ll take your chill vibes up a notch; the Goals Legging, a supportive bottom for flexing your literal or creative muscles; the OTT Fleece Hoodie, an easy-to-throw-on, hard-to-take-off pullover; and the Real Me Tank and Strappy Back Bra, both of which are made using the label’s four-way stretch fabric and provide extra bust support.

Even though some of the leggings and tops are made with sweat-inducing activities in mind, Aerie wants to make it clear that it doesn’t believe in telling shoppers how to define their “me” time or how to stay active. The joyful campaign imagery accompanying the launch is the perfect embodiment of this: Captured with no gym in sight, the models cartwheel in zebra-stripe shorts and lounge in overgrown fields wearing matching sports bra and leggings sets. If anything, the visuals will inspire you to pick lavender or take your dog on a long walk — activities that are both restorative and safe to do amid a global pandemic.

The launch marks parent company American Eagle Outfitters’ second new brand launch in under a month.

By Kellie Ell | Link to article

Aerie is getting active. 

The intimates brand, part of the American Eagle Outfitters family, is launching a new sub-brand today called Offline by Aerie.

The activewear line — an extension of Aerie’s popular Chill.Play.Move collection — is made up of more than 250 pieces and includes leggings, sports bras, bike shorts, fleece and accessories, in Flower-Power patterns, animal prints and lots of splashy colors.

“Offline is about you moving,” Jennifer Foyle, Aerie global brand president, told WWD. “You’re an Aerie customer and now we’re going to move with you and take you onto the next level of your journey, whatever it is.”

While the activewear market remains saturated with big names like Nike, Adidas and Lululemon, as well as scores of smaller brands and start-ups, Foyle said what makes Offline special is that it can be worn while incorporating movement into everyday life, however big or small that may be.

“It could be waking up and taking your dogs for a walk,” Foyle said. “I would like to see more journeys with girls that maybe need that help getting off the sofa or [who] are new to working out. I don’t think it should look particularly forced.”

True to form, the brand is also a little bit imperfect. The crooked “i” in the logo is meant to remind shoppers that it’s OK to celebrate flaws, Foyle said. (Aerie was one of the first brands to feature models of different shapes and sizes — sans airbrushing — back in 2014 with its AerieReal campaign.) The success of the AerieReal campaign encouraged Foyle and her team to continue building on that platform.

“We’re a humble brand,” Foyle said. “We always have work to do and are thinking about what more we can deliver to our consumer. We want to embrace the future, a bright future and do things differently.”

That’s why Foyle began conceptualizing the brand more than a year ago, before the pandemic hit and before working-out-from-home became the norm.

“The customer was demanding it,” she said. “COVID-19 has definitely taught us all to think differently, as far as leadership, as far as consumer product offerings, as far as where we’re going. But, as far as when we considered Offline by Aerie, we felt like she wanted more from us. I don’t think [fitness trends] are just [a product of] current times. I think it’s a new lifestyle.”

The activewear launch also marks parent company American Eagle Outfitters’ second new brand launch in less than a month. The retailer opened Unsubscribed, a single store retail concept in The Hamptons that focuses on slow retail, earlier this summer. (American Eagle Outfitters also owns Todd Snyder, in addition to the nameplate brand.)

Foyle said Unsubscribed is off to a good start as many shoppers seek refuge from the city heat in the middle of a pandemic.

Meanwhile, Aerie continues to break records. The intimates brand is the second largest lingerie e-tailer, second only to market share leader Victoria’s Secret, according to the NPD Group. In 2018, Aerie had 3 percent of the U.S. women’s intimate apparel industry, up from 2 percent a year earlier, according to Euromonitor International.

In March, Foyle told WWD that Aerie — then already nearing the $1 billion mark — had its sights set on becoming a $3 billion brand. And despite company losses last quarter as a result of the coronavirus shutdown, digital sales at Aerie surged 75 percent during the quarter. Aerie also continues to open new physical stores as many of its peers close brick-and-mortar locations at alarming rates. The brand opened about 60 new stores last year. Foyle added recently that two Offline by Aerie stores are coming by the end of the year, but was tightlipped about the locations.

“We have not even come close to leveraging what we can do with the Aerie platform,” Foyle said. “There’s so much opportunity.”

Offline by Aerie is available at aerie.com and Aerie stores. The prices range between $15.95 to $64.95, and run in sizes XXS to XXL. Foyle said her team will continue to add to the product assortment, with things like shoes and more sustainable fabrics in the future.

“Offline is not one-dimensional,” Foyle said. “It’s a journey with our customer; it’s how we feel she’s living and the product categories that she needs.”

New OFFLINE sub-brand builds on strong category demand designed uniquely for Aerie

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) announced today the launch of OFFLINE™ by Aerie, a new sub-brand offering a complete collection of activewear and accessories built for REAL movement and REAL comfort. Leveraging AEO’s continued success cultivating lifestyle brands, paired with Aerie’s incredible strength and growing customer demand, OFFLINE is the evolution and expansion of the brand’s popular Chill.Play.Move. collection into an unparalleled offering of soft, cozy and comfortable activewear. Uniquely designed for the Aerie girl’s slam dunks, slipups, the hell yeas, the ughs, the 5ks and the recovery days.

“Health and wellness have always been at the core of Aerie’s mission as we’ve led the body positivity movement, inspiring and empowering women around the world to feel confident inside and out. OFFLINE’s unique take on active lifestyle products celebrates REAL life when some days you feel like you can take on the world and other days you need that extra push to get off the couch,” said Jennifer Foyle, Aerie Global Brand President. “Building on the growing success of our leggings and activewear, OFFLINE provides another powerful platform to grow our community, while uniquely complementing Aerie’s full lifestyle collection of bras, undies, lounge and soft apparel. We’re here for your journey as you fly and as you fall, and even the slant of the I in our name is a reminder that there is no straight path to the finish line.”

OFFLINE by Aerie will be available online at aerie.com with two retail store locations planned to open by the end of 2020.

The OFFLINE collection features an activewear assortment of leggings, bike shorts, tops, sports bras, fleece, bottoms and accessories. Signature products include:

• OG Legging: The legging that started it all. It’s the softest and easiest cotton, offered in high-waisted and mid-rise options. Your go to for class, work, brunch, couch surfing, coffee, repeat.
• Real Me Legging: Our #1! This legging feels like the real you with soft support and a weightless touch. Your go-to, do-everything, go-everywhere legging.
• OTT Fleece Hoodie: Luxe meets movement in our over the top, buttery soft fleece. Seriously comfy and ready to move.
• Goals Legging: No center front seam and the most booty support. For flexing those muscles and hitting the gym.
• Real Me fabric now in new silhouettes!
  • Real Me Tank:  Soft support and a weightless touch in our new tank silhouette! Added shelf for extra support.
  • Real Me Strappy Back Bra: Feminine strappy back detail, long line body and removable pads.
• The Hugger Legging: The support you need and the cozy you can’t beat. These leggings have pockets and are brushed inside and out for extra warm and cozy feels.

The sub-brand also continues Aerie’s commitment to responsibly sourced styles, which are reflected through the REAL Good™ badge, an icon that identifies products made from more sustainable raw materials including recycled fabrics. It also designates products manufactured in a factory that meets expectations for AEO’s Water Leadership Program, an initiative that focuses on water reduction and water recycling, in keeping with the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.

About Aerie
Aerie is a lifestyle brand offering intimates, apparel, activewear and swim collections. With the #AerieREAL™ movement, Aerie celebrates its community by advocating for body positivity and the empowerment of all women. Aerie believes in inspiring customers to love their real selves, inside and out. Retouching-free since 2014. Visit www.aerie.com to learn more. Let the Real You Shine®.

About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. Our purpose is to show the world that there’s REAL power in the optimism of youth. The company operates stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong, and ships to 81 countries worldwide through its websites. American Eagle and Aerie merchandise also is available at more than 200 international locations operated by licensees in 25 countries. For more information, please visit www.aeo-inc.com.

At AEO we believe in the importance of treating our associates, customers, communities, and partners with compassion, understanding and fairness.

Earlier this year, when the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, there was widespread closures of retail stores and global supply chain production facilities. AEO had to make immediate and difficult business decisions, which included closing nearly 1,000 American Eagle and Aerie stores across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to protect the health and well-being of all of our stakeholders. At the same time, we recognized the importance of standing together with our suppliers who make our products. During that time, AEO:

• Held to our Vendor agreements and accepted 100% of existing finished goods and work in process against confirmed purchase orders.
• Accelerated payments for all remaining spring/summer orders to help the liquidity of our suppliers, and paid all invoices within days after invoicing. We paid our vendors quickly and on time because it was clear that they would be in urgent need of cash payments to withstand the impact on their businesses and continue to pay their workers and raw material suppliers.
• Remained dedicated to protecting workers in our supply chain. We are proud to have endorsed the International Labour Organization’s (ILO)“COVID-19 Call to Action in the Global Garment Industry” and continue to participate in ILO’s work for stronger social safety systems in our sourcing countries.

Our goal has always been to create strong, supportive relationships with our factory partners and to work collaboratively with them.

While we negotiated a one-time discount on a small amount of unshipped orders last April, we continued to take deliveries and pay invoices immediately.

With stores reopened and online demand strong, we anticipate being able to continue supporting our supply chain vendors through the rest of 2020 and beyond.

Each year, AEO honors one associate who has achieved significant accomplishments, personifies our values and who has left an indelible impact on our company and people. Over the next several weeks, we will spotlight the top three finalists for the 2019 AEO ICON.

Meet Terry Roberts, Vice President Employment Law and Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer. As AEO’s primary attorney focused on employment law, Terry has been a consummate professional and trusted business partner since joining the organization in 2016. In his role, Terry provides guidance on all legal matters relating to our associates including immigration and employment law issues.

Terry also spearheads our Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) efforts across AEO. This includes leading the I&D Alliance which is focused on creating an environment at AEO where everyone feels respected and empowered. The I&D Alliance is structured around three key pillars of inclusion: hiring, culture, and development. Terry’s partnership with the recruiting team has helped create relationships with diverse organizations such as HBCU’s and nonprofit organizations that help create access to diverse populations.

In 2019, Terry was pivotal in the creation and rollout of the AEO Sexual Harassment Training across the US and Canada. Terry designed comprehensive, innovative and interactive training materials to educate all of our corporate associates on how to prevent and recognize sexual harassment in the workplace. He coordinated logistics to train over 300 associates in more than 15 sessions across several states. He cleverly referred to the training as a “Terry Talks” and delivered the content in a manner that was comprehensible and relatable to participants. This was evident by the amount of participation and dialogue generated in the sessions. In the spirit of “Getting Real,” Terry even managed to incorporate current events and case studies to the discussion to help participants understand complex concepts, such as adverse and disparate impact. We received a flurry of positive feedback following the training. Can you believe that? Positive, glowing feedback on a Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training! Kudos, Terry!

Terry leads with authenticity –it’s his core value. He firmly believes that associates should have pride in who they are and not be afraid to say and live it. It’s that value that empowers him to drive change in our organization and to build relationships with associates at every level.

Congrats, Terry, on your nomination!

Each year, AEO honors one associate who has achieved significant accomplishments, personifies our values and who has left an indelible impact on our company and people. Over the next several weeks, we will spotlight the top three finalists for the 2019 AEO ICON.

Meet Jen Baiker, Sr. Director- Supply Chain Services & Excellence. Jen was nominated for the 2019 AEO ICON award for her efforts in leading a variety of key supply chain initiatives. At the highest level, Jen drove significant improvements that resulted in time and cost reductions as well as enabled efficiencies that spanned the entire supply chain.

By leading others through our REAL Values, applying her passion for logistics and coupling that with her technical expertise, Jen project managed several key initiatives that increased velocity of incoming freight and significantly reduced transit time to stores and customers. Through her commitment to various service improvements, she has helped lay the foundation for the supply chain to become a competitive advantage for AEO, Inc. and has begun leading the way for future enhancements and innovation, both contractually and operationally. Jen also drove significant cost reductions over various programs as a result of process improvements and the move to more automated platforms.

Lastly, it is important to note the impact she has on our people. Jen’s team grew from 10 to 25 in 2019. During this time, she prioritized the entire department’s engagement with our strategies while demonstrating optimism and enthusiasm for the supply chain of the future vision.

Kudo’s Jen, we thank you for your leadership and contribution to AEO, Inc.!