Brown Shoe Has ``Designs'' on Discovering Next Footwear Phenom; Company launches national shoe design competition for students.

ST. LOUIS -- Brown Shoe Company, Inc. (NYSE:BWS) is looking for the shoe industry's next great designer. The company's Shoe Design Contest (www.brownshoe.com/careers/shoedesigncontest) kicks off today nationwide, inviting college students majoring in fashion, design or a related field to compete for a chance to win the ultimate prize for an aspiring designer - seeing their design become a real shoe.

The Shoe Design Contest will accept original shoe design entries through November 5, when a judging panel comprised of designers and fashion industry leaders will review all entries and choose two finalists. Finalists win an all-expenses paid trip to the Fashion Footwear Association of New York's December trade show in Manhattan, where they will spend time with Brown Shoe designers and trend watchers. They also win the opportunity to submit a second design, from which a final winner will be selected. The final winner's design will be put into the production process, and a sample will be made. The winner also will be Brown Shoe's guest at the World Shoe Association's Las Vegas shoe show in February, and receive a cash prize of $5,000.

"Brown Shoe is committed to programs that encourage young talent. Through this Shoe Design Contest we are providing rising designers with real world experience and the opportunity to make contacts within the fashion industry," said Brown Shoe Recruitment Director Geoff Green. "Additionally, this contest is ideal for building relationships that ultimately may attract more great young designers into our industry."

The company also recently launched a design internship program, enabling college juniors and seniors to shadow its footwear designers for 10 weeks. To apply, students can visit http://www.brownshoe.com/careers/designinternship/.

Contest entries can be mailed to Brown Shoe Company, ATTN: Student Design Contest, 8300 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63105. More information and a complete listing of contest rules can be found at www.brownshoe.com/careers/shoedesigncontest.

Brown Shoe is a $2.3 billion footwear company with worldwide operations. The Company operates the 900+ store Famous Footwear chain, which sells brand name shoes for the family. It also operates 350+ Naturalizer stores in the U.S. and Canada that sell the Naturalizer brand of shoes and accessories, 16 FX LaSalle stores in Canada, and 8 Via Spiga stores that sell Via Spiga shoes and apparel. Brown Shoe, through its Wholesale divisions, owns and markets leading footwear brands including Naturalizer, LifeStride, Via Spiga, Nickels Soft, Connie and Buster Brown; it also markets licensed brands including Franco Sarto, Dr. Scholl's, Etienne Aigner, Bass and Carlos by Carlos Santana for adults, and Barbie, Bob-the-Builder and Disney character footwear for children. Brown Shoe press releases are available on the Company's web site at http://www.brownshoe.com.