WILSONS THE LEATHER EXPERTS INC
UNQUALIFIED RELEASE AGREEMENT
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.2
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>dex102.txt
<DESCRIPTION>UNQUALIFIED RELEASE AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.2


                          UNQUALIFIED RELEASE AGREEMENT
                          -----------------------------

Agreement made this 22nd day of August, 2002, by and between JOHN A. FOWLER, an
individual, on behalf of himself, his heirs, and anyone else who has or obtains
legal rights through him (hereafter referred to as "I", "me" or "Releasor") and
WILSONS LEATHER HOLDINGS INC., a Minnesota corporation, and any organization
related to Wilsons Leather Holdings Inc. in the past or present, and past or
present officers, directors, employees (with the exception of Releasor),
shareholders, committees, insurors, agents, successors and assigns of Wilsons
Leather Holdings Inc. or any past or present related organization or entity
(hereafter referred to as "Wilsons" ).

DEFINITIONS. All the words in this Unqualified Release Agreement ("Release")
have their meaning in ordinary English.

PAYMENTS AND PROMISES. In exchange for my Promises, as set forth below, Wilsons
has promised to do the following things for me:

1.       Pay me the gross amount of $350,000, less all applicable federal and
         state tax deductions and other applicable deductions, which net amount
         shall be paid during the first pay period after my termination date
         (which I acknowledge and agree shall be August 11, 2002), provided I
         have properly executed this Release (and providing that the revocation
         and rescission periods have passed without my rescinding all or any
         portion of this Release);

2.       Pay the premium(s) for COBRA continuation of the medical and/or dental
         coverage for which I am eligible and currently enrolled as of my
         termination date, August 11, 2002 (resulting in insured benefits
         coverage through August 31, 2002), for up to fifty two (52) weeks of
         COBRA coverage, or the maximum number of weeks for which I am eligible,
         whichever is less, subject to the following. I understand and agree
         that Wilsons' agreement to pay such COBRA premiums is contingent upon
         my timely and properly electing COBRA coverage to be effective
         September 1, 2002. I acknowledge and agree that if I fail to timely and
         properly elect COBRA coverage, Wilsons shall not be responsible for any
         lapse in my medical and/or dental coverage or COBRA coverage, nor for
         any failure to pay amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this provision
         of this Release. Further, at such time as I may elect to terminate
         COBRA coverage or at such time as I may become ineligible to continue
         COBRA coverage, Wilsons shall no longer be responsible for any payments
         for premiums beyond the termination of coverage date;

3.       Pay me the amount equal to what I would have received as a bonus for
         fiscal year 2002 under the Wilsons Executive and Key Management
         Incentive Plan, at the 100% targeted bonus level (for which bonus I am
         no longer eligible but which Wilsons will pay as part of the
         consideration for this Release), which would be a gross amount of
         $122,500, less applicable federal and state taxes and other applicable
         deductions, such net amount payable when all such bonuses for the 2002
         fiscal year, if any, are paid out in 2003;


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4.       Arrange for all issued and outstanding stock options (i.e., the
         unvested portion of the 11,250 options granted on March 29, 2001, at an
         exercise price of $18.9375, to fully vest as of my termination date,
         August 11, 2002, and allow me until August 11, 2004 (rather than the
         usual 90 days after termination) to exercise any or all of those
         options. I acknowledge and expressly agree that any restricted stock
         that would not be vested as of my termination date of August 11, 2002,
         shall not vest and shall be forfeited;

5.       Enter into a Consulting Agreement with me for a term of one (1) year,
         beginning January 1, 2003 (subject to provisions for earlier
         termination as agreed between the parties), which agreement shall (i)
         provide for a consulting fee in the gross amount of $12,000 per month,
         (ii) contain non-competition and confidentiality provisions, and (iii)
         require me to maintain my authorization to work in the United States,
         at no cost to Wilsons;

6.       Pay costs related to my Minnesota and Hong Kong residences as follows:
         (a) If the lease for my Minnesota apartment has more than three (3)
         months remaining on the lease term, I will be responsible for
         negotiating an early termination of the lease, and Wilsons will pay the
         rent and any early termination penalty through the negotiated
         termination date. If the lease has three or fewer months remaining on
         the term, Wilsons will pay the rent for the remainder of the term, and
         I will be responsible only for giving any required notice to terminate
         the lease and avoid any renewal or extension of the term. (b) As to my
         Hong Kong residence, Wilsons will continue to make the rental payments
         it has been making through the earlier of lease expiration or October
         l, 2002, at which point the lease and all payments thereunder, if any,
         will be my sole responsibility; and

7.       Pay directly to KPMG, or another accounting firm of Wilsons' choosing
         in its sole discretion, the costs of preparation of my tax returns for
         calendar year 2002, for both my United States and Hong Kong tax
         returns, at the same level of service I received for calendar year
         2001.

PAYMENTS CONTINGENT ON RELEASE. I understand and agree that I would not receive
the Payments and Promises set forth above as item numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
and/or 7 except for any execution of this Release and the fulfillment of my
Promises as set forth herein.

RELEASOR'S CLAIMS. The claims I am releasing below include all rights to any
relief of any kind to date, including but not limited to:

1. all claims I now have against Wilsons, whether or not now known;

2. all claims I have against Wilsons for alleged discrimination against me under
any federal, state or local law, including for example Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended ("Title VII"), the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, as amended ("ADEA"), the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"), the
Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") or the Minnesota Human Rights Act
("MHRA");


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3. all claims arising out of the hiring process used by Wilsons or arising out
of my termination, including but not limited to, any alleged breach of contract,
defamation or intentional infliction of emotional distress;

4. all claims for attorneys' fees; and

5. all claims for any other alleged unlawful employment practices arising out of
or relating to my employment or the termination of my employment.

MY PROMISES. In exchange for receiving the payments and other consideration set
forth in this Release, I hereby promise to fully and finally release, give up
and otherwise relinquish all my claims against Wilsons, including but not
limited to claims under Title VII, ADEA, FLSA, ADA and MHRA. I will not bring
any lawsuits or make any other demands against Wilsons except if necessary to
enforce the provisions of this Release. The payments and other consideration I
will receive as set forth in this Release is full and fair payment for the
release of all my claims. Wilsons does not owe me anything in addition to what I
will receive under this Release.

Further, I promise that I shall continue to meet the reporting requirements for
an officer of a publicly held company, and comply with all applicable laws and
regulations and with company policy with regard to my officer status through my
termination date of August 11, 2002, and thereafter comply with securities laws
and regulations as applicable.

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS. I acknowledge that Wilsons' position
is that even though it has paid me to release my claims, Wilsons does not admit
that it is responsible or legally obligated to me and, in fact, Wilsons denies
any wrongdoing or legal obligation to me.

CONFIDENTIALITY. I agree not to disclose any information regarding the existence
or substance of this Release or the payments and other consideration given in
exchange for the Release except to a financial advisor and an attorney or
attorneys with whom I may choose to consult regarding my consideration of this
Release. It shall be a condition of any disclosure to any such individuals that
they also maintain the confidentiality of the Release.

RIGHTS TO COUNSEL, CONSIDER, REVOKE AND RESCIND. I understand that I am advised
by Wilsons to consult an attorney prior to signing this Release. I have read
this Release carefully and understand all of its terms. I have had the
opportunity to discuss this Release with my own attorney. In agreeing to sign
this Release, I have not relied on any statements or explanations made by
Wilsons, its agents or its attorneys, other than Wilsons' promises as set forth
in this Release.

I further understand that I have twenty-one (21) days to consider my release of
rights and claims of age discrimination under the ADEA, beginning the date on
which I receive this Release. If I sign this Release, I understand that I am
entitled to revoke my release of rights or claims of age discrimination under
the ADEA within seven (7) days of executing it, and it shall not become legally
binding or enforceable until the seven-day period has expired.


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I further understand that, pursuant to Minnesota law as set forth below, I may
rescind this Agreement for a period of fifteen (15) days following the date of
this Agreement. Any rescission within this period must be submitted in writing
to Corrine G. Lapinsky, Director of Legal Services, Wilsons Leather, 7401 Boone
Avenue No., Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428, and the rescission must state, "I
hereby rescind my acceptance of the Unqualified Release Agreement." The
rescission must be either personally delivered or mailed and postmarked within
fifteen (15) days of execution of the Unqualified Release Agreement. This
Unqualified Release Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until
the rescission period has expired. If the last day of the revocation period is a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in Minnesota, then the rescission period shall
not expire until the next following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal
holiday.

RELEASOR IS FURTHER SPECIFICALLY ADVISED PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION
363.031 THAT RELEASOR HAS THE RIGHT TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT WITHIN FIFTEEN
(15) CALENDAR DAYS OF ITS EXECUTION. TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE RESCISSION MUST BE IN
WRITING AND DELIVERED TO WILSONS EITHER BY HAND DELIVERY OR BY MAIL, PROPERLY
ADDRESSED TO CORRINE G. LAPINSKY AT THE ADDRESS GIVEN ABOVE AND SENT BY
CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, WITHIN SAID FIFTEEN (15) DAY PERIOD.

                  (Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this Release on this day of 22nd day
of August, 2002.

JOHN A. FOWLER (on behalf of herself, her heirs, successors and assigns)

/s/ John A. Fowler                     8-20-02
----------------------------------     ------------------
John A. Fowler                         Date


STATE OF MINNESOTA         )
                           ) ss.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN         )

On this 20th day of August, 2002, personally appeared before me, a `Notary
Public within and for said County, John A. Fowler, known to be the person named
in and who executed the foregoing Unqualified Release Agreement and who
acknowledged such execution to be his free act and deed for the purposes therein
expressed.

[Notary Seal]                          /s/ Debra J. Marcus
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public

WILSONS LEATHER HOLDINGS INC. (on behalf of itself, its patent, subsidiary and
affiliated corporations, concerns, successors and assigns)

By: /s/ Betty Goff
    ------------------------------
    Betty Goff
    Vice President, Human Resources


STATE OF MINNESOTA         )
                           ) ss.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN         )

On this 23rd day of August, 2002, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public
within and for said County, Betty Goff, Vice President Human Resource, of
Wilsons Leather Holdings Inc., known to be the person named in and who executed
the foregoing Unqualified Release Agreement and who acknowledged that she
executed the same as her free act and deed for the purposes therein expressed.

[Notary Seal]                          /s/ Debra J. Marcus
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public


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