Tropical Sportswear Appoints Exec. Vice Pres.

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Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation (TSI) announced the appointment of William V. Roberti as Executive Vice President of Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation and President of the Victorinox division of the Company. Mr. Roberti, who was Chairman and CEO of Duck Head Apparel Co., Inc., joined TSI through the recent acquisition of Duck Head. Mr. Roberti has over 32 years experience in the retail and apparel industry. From 1995 to 1998, he was President and CEO of Plaid Clothing Group Inc., the second largest tailored clothing manufacturer in the United States. From 1987 to 1994, he was President and CEO of Brooks Bros. Inc., a division of Marks and Spencer PLC, a leading upscale retailer of men's and women's apparel. He also is a retired Colonel in the United States Army Reserve where he served for 34 years. Mr. Roberti will report to Mr. Christopher B. Munday, President of Tropical Sportswear Int'l Corporation, and will have primary management responsibility for the Company's Victorinox division. In addition, Mr. Roberti will assist with future business development and growth initiatives, including brand licensing programs and acquisitions. Mr. William W. Compton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, "Bill brings TSI invaluable apparel industry experience and relationships. We are very excited about Victorinox(R)'s future and Bill Roberti's leadership of this important brand. We also look forward to the impact of Bill's experience and perspective on TSI's future strategic initiatives." TSI markets and manufactures branded and private brand men's, boys' and women's casual and dress sportswear through all major retail distribution channels. Major owned brands include Savane(R), Farah(R), Duck Head (R), Bay to Bay(R), Flyers(TM), Royal Palm(R), The Original Khaki Co.(R), Banana Joe(R), Two Pepper(R), and Authentic Chino Casuals(R). Licensed brands include Bill Blass(R), John Henry(R), Van Heusen(R) and Victorinox(R), the makers of the original Swiss Army(TM) Knife. TSI distinguishes itself by providing major retailers with comprehensive brand management programs and uses advanced technology to provide retailers with customer, product and market analyses, apparel design, and merchandising consulting and inventory forecasting with a focus on return on investment.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management cautions that these statements represent projections and estimates of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of factors including, without limitation, Mr. Roberti's successful transition to the role of divisional President and his achieving management's expectations; difficulties in finding appropriate acquisition candidates and difficulties in negotiating and consummating acquisitions on attractive terms; difficulties in finding appropriate brand licensing programs and difficulties in negotiating brand licensing programs on attractive terms; the ability of the Company to continue to use certain licensed trademarks and tradenames, including Victorinox(R), John Henry(R), Bill Blass(R), and Van Heusen(R); general economic conditions, including recession or other cyclical effects impacting our customers in the US or abroad and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.