PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - Nov 15, 2011) - Respect Your Universe (OTCBB: RYUN) is pleased to announce that they have partnered with two new independent Sales Representatives.

Falon Cardo will represent RYU as independent Sales Representative responsible for growing an account base in New York, selling into specialty retailers, sporting goods and high-end department stores, as well as working to maximize individual and countrywide representative potential for RYU.

After attending both the University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University, Cardo began working in the apparel industry for LTM International in Weston, FL where she sold Bejeweled Bejeweled Kids, 12 Symbols, We the People Denim and Toon Couture to specialty retailers throughout the United States, as well as attended all major trade shows and worked with distributors in Europe.

After one year, Cardo chose to relocate to New York where she began work for Haddad Brands in 2006 as a Sales Associate selling brands such as Levi's Kids, Nike Brand Kids, Nike NCAA, Jordan, Harley, Dickies and Nike 6.0 to mid tier department, specialty and sporting goods stores, as well as to off price retailers.

From 2006 to 2010, Cardo increased business within her account base by 17%, despite economic difficulties, as well as companies going out of business or merging.

Cardo left Haddad as a Senior Account Executive in 2010 and started her own business based out of Long Island, NY, FalCar Enterprises LTD, selling Nike Kids, NCAA, Levi's, Nike Brand, and Nike 6.0 to mid tier department, sporting goods and specialty stores, as well as to off price retailers.

"I [am] excited and eager to be a part of RYU as the [New York] Sales [Representative]," Cardo states. "I look forward to working with a great team and representing a great brand that soon will be recognized within the MMA community for its outstanding product!"

With her experience and success in the field of sales, Falon will be an excellent representative of the RYU Team.

Roger Hesson will also represent RYU as Sales Representative responsible for growing an account base in California, selling to a variety of retailers and department stores, as well as working to maximize individual and countrywide representative potential for RYU.

A graduate of the University of Texas with an MBA in Business, Hesson has more than 25 years of experience in the field of sales.

The first Sales Representative for Ralph Lauren Footwear, a division of Lighthouse Footwear owned by Sam Edelman, Hesson was also a successful representative for Hongson Footwear where he worked for ten years, five of which he was ranked as the number one salesman in a team of 20, selling lines such as Travel Fox, Buffalino and Baco Bucci from Italy.

Hesson then worked for ten years for Buffalino Footwear, helping to build a collection each year and earning the ranking of top salesman nine out of ten years in a team of ten.

Transitioning from footwear to the music industry, Hesson worked for two years at Concrete Management, representing product placement contracts for artists such as Rob Zombie and Pantera, and securing individual concert and Oz Fest sponsorships with Budweiser.

Hesson then served as the Assistant Manager for Poe, an artist who sold over two million records, assisting in the sale of Poe's song to GM for a series of commercials before also assisting the popular rock band Korn in attaining their first recording contract after shopping to two separate record companies.

Returning to the footwear business, Hesson worked for Skechers Footwear for six years where he became the highest paid salesman in Skechers history due to commissions from sales of Marc Ecko in the Western United States.

Hesson, who has begun Mixed Martial Arts training in order to better understand the needs of the athlete, is looking forward to working alongside RYU as an independent representative.

"[I am] very excited to join [the] RYU Team, as this is [an] expanding sport that is replacing boxing," Hesson states, adding that RYU is a much-needed answer to a growing demand for high-quality active training and sportswear in the martial arts and Mixed Martial Arts communities.

With his wealth of knowledge, experience and success, Roger Hesson will be an excellent representative of the RYU brand.

With the welcoming of both Falon Cardo and Roger Hesson as independent Sales Representatives in New York and California, the RYU Team continues to move forward toward the release of the debut Spring 2012 Men's Line of premium apparel.

"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.

Safe Harbor Statements
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.