RYU to Restate Prior Financial Statements

LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - Nov 16, 2012) - Respect Your Universe, Inc. (RYU) (TSX VENTURE: RYU) (OTCQB: RYUN), http://www.ryu.com/, today announced that, based on the recommendation of the audit committee in consultation with the management of the Company and the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, the board of directors of Respect Your Universe, Inc. (the "Company") has concluded that the Company will restate its previously issued audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and the unaudited financial statements for quarterly periods ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, as well as its selected financial data for the relevant periods. Accordingly, investors should no longer rely upon the Company's previously released financial statements for these periods and other financial data relating to these periods.

The restatement consists of certain non-cash adjustments related to share based compensation, primarily the accounting for stock issued to third parties for future services which was subject to forfeiture by the recipient. None of the adjustments will impact reported cash balances and the restatement will reduce the accumulated deficit previously reported. Until the restatement process is complete, additional information may become available which could cause the Company's current estimates to change. The effects of the restatement on certain reported periods are material and the impact of the adjustments will be disclosed in more detail in the Company's restated financial statements.

While the Company has not finalized the consideration of the impact of these adjustments on its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting, the Company has concluded that these adjustments were the result of one or more material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting.

The anticipated impacts of the restatements are as follows:

Year ended December 31, 2011

Total assets will decrease approximately $1,624,000 with a corresponding decrease to total liabilities and shareholder's equity. Net loss will decrease approximately $174,000 with no change to net loss per common share.

Quarter ended March 31, 2012

Total assets will decrease approximately $1,236,000 with a corresponding decrease to total liabilities and shareholder's equity. Net loss will increase approximately $13,000 with no change to net loss per common share.

Quarter ended June 30, 2012

Total assets will decrease approximately $857,000 with a corresponding decrease to total liabilities shareholder's equity. Net loss will decrease approximately $162,000 with no change to net loss per common share.