Columbia Sportswear Signs License Agreement with Fossil; Agreement Will Add Watches to Columbia's Extensive Outdoor Product Line.

Business Editors

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2001

Columbia Sportswear Company(R) (Nasdaq:COLM) announced today that it has signed a North American license agreement with Fossil Inc(R) (Nasdaq: FOSL) to design, manufacture and market an extensive line of wrist watches and watch fobs for men, women and children.

Columbia and Fossil expect the watch collection, designed with technical features for outdoor activities, to be in retail stores by June 2002, just in time for Father's Day.

"We are extremely enthusiastic about working with Fossil, a known industry expert, to provide a quality line of outdoor watches," said Tim Boyle, Columbia's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe the Columbia-branded watch line will add an essential component to our current line of outdoor adventure gear."

While watches complement Columbia Sportswear's outdoor apparel and footwear business, the production of the line is highly specialized, so the Company opted to pursue a license agreement rather than manufacture the watches in-house.

"We are looking forward to the opportunity to work with Columbia on the development of this timepiece collection. We feel the brand lends itself to some exciting interpretations of fashion, design and function within this product category," said Mike Barnes, President of Fossil's Special Market Division.

Fossil, headquarted in Richardson, Texas is a design, development, marketing and distribution company that specializes in consumer products predicated on fashion and value. In addition to developing its own brand, Fossil leverages its development and production expertise by designing and manufacturing private label and licensed products for some of the most prestigious companies in the world. Fossil brand products can be found in department stores and other upscale retailers in over 80 countries around the world. Visit the Company's website at www.fossil.com for more information.

Founded in 1938 in Portland, Ore., Columbia Sportswear Company(R) is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel, footwear and accessories.

As one of the largest outerwear brands in the world and the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the Company has developed an international reputation by expanding its product line, emphasizing quality, performance, functionality and value. To learn more about Columbia Sportswear, please visit the Company's website at www.columbia.com.

The Beanstalk Group, Columbia Sportswear's New York-headquartered trademark licensing agency of record, assisted in this transaction.

Certain statements contained herein that are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual results of the future events described in such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those stated in such forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: general economic conditions, competition, government regulation and possible future litigation, as well as the risks and uncertainties set forth on Fossil, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 1999.