LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - Dec 20, 2012) -  [ Respect Your Universe, Inc. ] (TSX VENTURE: [ RYU ]) (OTCBB: [ RYUN ]) announces two new board members. Steven Eklund and Bill Marcus bring with them a breadth of experience in the sports apparel and equipment industries, as well as finance, sales and business development.

"Steven and Bill are incredible additions to our board, providing additional insight and experience to RYU's group of talented directors," said RYU chairman and chief executive officer David Campisi. "With their broad expertise and knowledge of the retail and finance industries, they will advise RYU on the acceleration of our company's continued growth."

Currently the chief financial officer for RYU, Eklund will retire effective Jan. 15, 2013 and begins his role with the board immediately. Eklund is a seasoned senior finance and operations executive with broad experience in consumer products and retail. His expertise is in optimizing capital structures, cash flow and profitability for global Fortune 100 companies and high growth emerging businesses, including Nike, Hanna Andersson, Eddie Bauer and General Mills.

As senior managing director at Hedgeharber and president of Evolution Trading Partners, LLC, Bill Marcus joins the board with 28 years of experience in building and managing institutional trading firms in financial derivative markets. He shares his expertise in managing complex institutional relationships; client development; trading, sales and capital introductions; building teams, product lines and new businesses; and risk management.

Additionally, Aaron Loreth will succeed Eklund as RYU's vice president of finance, director Emmanuel (Kofi) Brown will step off the board to pursue his current role as chief marketing officer and Kristian Andresen will retire from the board.

Aaron Loreth, vice president of finance, joined RYU in October of 2011 as controller, and has created the company's accounting and systems foundation. Previously, Loreth worked with RightNow Technologies, Inc. in Bozeman, Mont., as well as Portland's Coffee Bean International, Inc., KPMG LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP.

Kofi Brown was previously the marketing director for Jordan brand, a division of Nike, Inc. In his role, Brown drove local, national and global market executions to support brand initiatives, led research projects related to market trends, consumer profiles and competitive intelligence, and ensured alignment with corporate strategic objectives.

About Respect Your Universe
Respect Your Universe, Inc. (OTCBB: [ RYUN ]) is a premium performance apparel and equipment company focused on the needs of the athlete. RYU brings innovative design, development and production of premium, authentic performance gear with style to athlete enthusiasts worldwide. The RYU brand is based on respect, strength, honor and sustainability. Respect to the End. For more information, visit [ www.ryu.com ].

Forward-Looking 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 securities law. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of RYU to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, that our new directors can utilize their experience to assist RYU with sales growth. Except as required by law, RYU undertakes no responsibility to update any of the statements contained in this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.