PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - Oct 28, 2011) - Respect Your Universe, Inc. (OTCBB: [ RYUN ]) is pleased to announce that they have appointed three new team members to positions in their Portland, OR office.

Kristine Cleary has been appointed and will represent RYU as the new Sales Coordinator.

Kristine is a knowledgeable professional with more than fifteen years of experience. Prior to accepting her position as Sales Coordinator, she worked for four years as an Account Coordinator at Meyock & Priebe Advertising, as well as for more than eleven years with Nike in US Sales, Global Sales and Americas Sales.

Kristine will be responsible for managing the logistics of sales meetings and trade shows, master data, sales force management, and sales reporting, as well as assisting in design and testing of the B2B site. "I am really excited to be working for an organization that is taking a grass roots approach [to] developing great product for phenomenal athletes," Cleary states. "I'm looking forward to helping build something from the ground up."

Aaron Loreth has been appointed and will represent RYU as the new Controller.

Aaron is a CPA and graduate of the University of Montana and has more than ten years of professional experience. Before joining the RYU team he worked for three years in public accounting roles at KPMG and Arthur Andersen, for four years as the Vice President of Finance/Controller at Coffee Bean International, as well as four years as the Assistant Controller-Revenue at RightNow Technologies, a public software company based in Bozeman, MT.

Aaron's responsibilities with RYU include implementing the new ERP system, day to day full-cycle accounting, month end close and internal and external financial reporting. "I'm thrilled to be a part of team RYU. It is highly exciting to join a development stage business led by such a high caliber management team with its sights set on building a premium brand in a growing niche of the sports apparel industry," Loreth explains. "I can't think of a better place to be."

Sabrina Schmeck has been appointed and will represent RYU as the new Communications Specialist.

Sabrina is a recent graduate of Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and an outside concentration in Intercultural Communication. She is a seventeen year veteran to the world of martial arts, holding a black belt and National Championship in Taekwondo, and has worked as a columnist for the mixed martial arts news and lifestyle website CouchFighter, and remains involved with Team Quest and SportFight in Portland, OR.

Utilizing her knowledge, experience and continued involvement in the mixed martial arts community, Sabrina will be responsible for all written communication and successfully communicating the RYU brand through a variety of mediums, including social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. "I developed a passion for combat sports when I was just five years old and I've never looked back," Schmeck explains. "Working for RYU means working in the industry and field that I am passionate about, and I feel infinitely blessed for the opportunity."

"Built for Athletes, Suited for Style," RYU's debut Spring 2012 Men's Line of premium high performance product embodies the art of the sport and places emphasis on respect, strength, sustainability and honor as the foundation of their apparel and products. All of the apparel items and products have been produced from organic and/or recycled materials utilizing some of the best yarn and fabric suppliers in the world while achieving the performance attributes desired by Mixed Martial Arts fighters and the true everyday athlete.

For more information on RYU visit [ http://www.respectyouruniverse.com/ ] or call +1-888-455-6183 ext. 101.

About Respect Your Universe
Respect Your Universe, Inc. (OTCBB: [ RYUN ]) is a premium performance apparel and equipment company rooted in and inspired by Mixed Martial Arts. Focused on the needs of the athlete, RYU brings innovative design, development and production of premium authentic performance gear with style to mixed martial artists and athlete enthusiasts worldwide. The RYU brand is based on respect, honor and sustainability.

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Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "anticipates" or "does not anticipate," "plans," "hopes," "estimates," "projects" or "intends," or stating that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of sales and designs of our apparel, the MMA industry and market, the apparel industry and market, the availability of capital to fund our business plan and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, product manufacturing and sourcing, and labor. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.