Licensing Agreement With Vera Wang - New Fragrance

Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
20 March 2000


                     UNILEVER ANNOUNCES
    LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH VERA WANG FOR NEW FRAGRANCE


Unilever announced today that it has signed an exclusive
licensing agreement with Vera Wang, the world's premiere
designer of luxury wedding dresses,  to develop the
designer's first fragrance.  The union marries one of the
world's foremost consumer product companies with one of the
fashion world's most multi-faceted stars.

Unilever produces Calvin Klein and Elizabeth Arden cosmetics
and fragrances.  The company holds global licenses with
Valentino, Cerruti, Lagerfeld and most recently added
Nautica to its portfolio of global fragrance licenses.

Widely regarded as the leading designer of luxurious wedding
dresses, Ms. Wang has spent more than 25 years in the
fashion industry, beginning with a 16-year tenure as a
senior fashion editor at Vogue.  This was followed by her
serving as design director of Ralph Lauren.  In 1990, she
ventured out on her own, opening a Salon at the Carlyle
Hotel to showcase her collection.  Her label quickly  took
off, earning praise from the fashion elite for its luxurious
fabrics, exquisite detailing and contemporary interpretation
of classic lines.

Wang made her mark with wedding dresses, but today is known
for offering women modern, elegant and sophisticated ready-
to-wear, eveningwear and sportswear.  Her collections are
currently sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's New York,
Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and other
speciality stores around the world.

The style of Vera Wang is embraced by many of the world's
most fashionable women, including Sharon Stone, Holly
Hunter, Meg Ryan, Elisabeth Shue, Mariah Carey, Uma Thurman,
Helen Hunt, Kate Capshaw and Jane Fonda.  All have worn Vera
Wang designs, and continue to collaborate with her on
selections for their most important events.

According to Laura Lee Miller, president of Unilever
Prestige, a business unit of Unilever Cosmetics
International, 'We're proud to launch Vera Wang's new
fragrance and believe her strong name will resonate with
women worldwide.  We look forward to working with her to
develop a scent that captures the essence of her universally
revered style.'

According to Chet Hazzard, president of Vera Wang, 'Unilever
has a reputation for forming mutually beneficial
partnerships with its licensees that extends from product
development through distribution; short-range initiatives
through long-term planning.  The company is truly global and
this is an integral step in our plans to bring Vera Wang to
the international marketplace.'

'I am absolutely ecstatic about having my own fragrance
because it finally enables me to convey my sense of passion
and sensuality to a client who cannot necessarily afford my
dresses,' says Vera Wang.  'Since my first business is
dressing women for some of the most important days of their
lives, I feel that we have a unique approach to women,
romance and intimacy.  I waited for the absolute right
partner and I feel this is marriage of the minds.  I look
forward to creating something unique and special for women
from all different worlds.'