FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Information, Contact:

                                     Seymour Holtzman, Chairman of the Board
                                     Jeff Unger, Investor Relations
                                     Designs, Inc.
                                     (781) 444-7222

                                     RJ Falkner & Company, Inc.
                                     Investor Relations Counsel
                                     (800) 377-9893
                                     info@rjfalkner.com


       DESIGNS, INC. ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF DUTCH AUCTION TENDER OFFER

(Needham,  MA, November 15, 2000) -- Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ/NMS:  DESI), operator
of Levi's(R) and Dockers(R)  Outlet By Designs  stores,  today announced that it
has commenced a "Dutch Auction" tender offer for up to 1.5 million shares of the
Company's  Common Stock,  reserving the option to purchase up to an additional 1
million  shares.  The Company  currently has  approximately  15.8 million shares
outstanding.

         Under the terms of the offer,  the Company has invited the shareholders
to tender  their  shares to the  Company at prices  specified  by the  tendering
shareholders  not in excess of $3.00 nor less than $2.20 per share,  in ten-cent
($0.10)  increments.  There is no certainty  that the Company will  purchase all
shares tendered in the offer,  and in the event of an  over-subscription  within
the specified  range,  the Company would accept shares on a pro rata basis.  The
tender offer commenced today, November 15, 2000, and will expire at 5:00 pm EST,
on December  14, 2000,  unless  extended by the Company.  Any  shareholders  who
require tender offer materials may contact the  Information  Agent for the offer
at the address and telephone number indicated below.

         Designs,  Inc. will select the lowest single  per-share  purchase price
that will  allow it to buy  1,500,000  million  shares,  or up to an  additional
1,000,000  shares  at the  Company's  option.  If a lesser  number  of shares is
properly  tendered,  the Company will purchase all shares properly  tendered and
not withdrawn at the lowest single per-share price.

         If the tender offer is  over-subscribed,  Designs,  Inc.  will purchase
first from  shareholders  owning  fewer than 100 shares and  tendering  all such
shares at or below the purchase  price  determined  by the Company and then from
all other  shareholders  tendering at or below such purchase price on a pro rata
basis.  The tender offer will not be conditioned on any minimum number of shares
being tendered.

         Neither the Company nor its Board of Directors is making any
recommendation to shareholders as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering
their shares or as to the purchase price on any tender. The Company has been
advised that neither the Company's directors or executive officers nor Jewelcor
Management, Inc., the Company's largest shareholder, intend to tender any shares
pursuant to the offer. D.F. King and Co., Inc. will act as Information Agent.




THIS PRESS RELEASE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER TO BUY
OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SHARES OF DESIGNS, INC.'S COMMON
STOCK. THE SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY DESIGNS, INC. COMMON STOCK WILL ONLY BE
MADE PURSUANT TO AN OFFER TO PURCHASE AND RELATED MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO
SHAREHOLDERS BY DESIGNS, INC. SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THOSE MATERIALS
BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE VARIOUS TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER. SHAREHOLDERS CAN OBTAIN COPIES OF THE OFFER TO
PURCHASE, RELATED MATERIALS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION THROUGH THE COMMISSION'S WEB SITE AT http://www.sec.gov
WITHOUT CHARGE. SHAREHOLDERS CAN ALSO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND
RELATED ------------------ MATERIALS, WITHOUT CHARGE, FROM DESIGNS, INC. BY ORAL
OR WRITTEN REQUEST TO: DESIGNS, INC. ATTENTION: DENNIS HERNREICH, SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, 66 B STREET, NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS,
02494, OR FROM THE COMPANY'S INFORMATION AGENT, D.F. KING AND CO., INC., AT 77
WATER STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10005, TELEPHONE 800-758-5880.

The discussion of forward-looking information requires management of the Company
to make certain  estimates and  assumptions  regarding  the Company's  strategic
direction and the effect of such plans on the Company's  financial results.  The
Company's actual results and the  implementation of its plans and operations may
differ  materially  from  forward-looking  statements  made by the Company.  The
Company encourages readers of forward-looking information concerning the Company
to refer to its prior filings with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  that
set  forth  certain  risks and  uncertainties  that may have an impact on future
results and direction of the Company.

Designs, Inc. operates 106 Levi's(R)Outlet by Designs and Dockers(R)Outlet by
Designs stores. These stores are located in outlet parks and malls throughout
the eastern United States and Puerto Rico.