Mothers Work Inc.

Mothers Work, Inc. (Philadelphia) announced that net sales for the month of August 2005 increased approximately 17 percent to $45.8 million, up from $39 million reported for the same period last year.

The maternity apparel retailer said the increase in net sales was driven primarily by sales from the company's new Oh Baby! By Motherhood licensed arrangement with Kohl's, which launched during the second quarter of fiscal 2005, and sales from the expansion of the company's Two Hearts Maternity collection to an additional 497 Sears locations during late March 2005.

Comparable store sales for August 2005 were down approximately 0.5 percent (based on 1014 locations) versus a comparable store sales decrease of 13.0 percent (based on 888 locations) for August 2004.

During August 2005, Mother Works, which operates under the Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity and Destination Maternity banners, opened one store (a multi-brand store) and six leased department locations, and closed 2 stores, with one of these store closings related to a multi-brand store opening. The Company ended the month with 855 stores and 1,598 total retail locations, compared to 879 stores and 1,106 total retail locations at the end of August 2004.