Rafaella

Rafaella, or Rafaella Sportswear, is a women's clothing brand owned by the publicly held international clothing company Perry Ellis International. Originally created by Rafaella Apparel Group, the brand changed ownership to Cerberus Capital Management before being bought and expanded by Perry Ellis.

Rafaella
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryFashion/Apparel
Founded1982
HeadquartersMiami, FL
ProductsWomen's Clothing
ParentPerry Ellis International
Websitewww.rafaellasportswear.com

History

The Rafaella brand name was established under the company Rafaella Apparel Group, Inc. in 1982[1] in New York City, New York to suit the clothing needs of working women in the United States of America. The Rafaella brand became quickly gained popularity among professional women because of the quality the brand offered. Additionally, Rafaella was among the first women's dress clothing lines to offer its pants styles across a wide range of pant fits. Rafaella's offering of "Modern," "Classic," and "Curvy," fit types has been mirrored by other clothing companies, including Levi Strauss & Co. In pioneering the sales technique of offering the same style in multiple female body types, Rafaella was able to win market share over its competitors, solidifying the company's success toward the end of the 20th Century.[2] The brand has been featured in several issues of O, The Oprah Magazine and on the Oprah Winfrey Show [3][4][5] and has been the subject of fashion editorials and reviews for its women's dress pants, dress shirts, dresses, and swim/sportswear.[6][7][8]

Management Changes and Expansion

Rafaella Apparel Group was bought by Cerberus Capital Management [9] and was later sold in January 2011 to its current owner, Perry Ellis International for $70 million USD. [10] [11] Perry Ellis International expanded the brand, continuing its dresswear line while broadening its focus on dresses and sportswear.[12] Under Perry Ellis, the brand's new looks gained positive reviews [13] In July 2012 fashion executive Denise Miller was instated as the President of Rafaella in order to further expand that vision. Miller previously worked for Kellwood Company as well as G-III Apparel, Ltd., where she was the President of Calvin Klein suits and suit separates.[14] Another major management change was subsequently made in 2013 when Karol Rosa, model and co-host of Sabado Gigante,[15] was hired as the Brand Ambassador for Rafaella.[16] [17] Despite the ownership and management changes, the company remains headquartered in New York City.

References
  1. "Company Overview of Rafaella Apparel Group, Inc". Bloomberg Business Week. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  2. "Rafaella; About Us". Retrieved 2013-09-19.
  3. Glassman, Adam. "O What a Buy: The Interview Kit". O, The Oprah Magazine. Harpo, Inc.
  4. Glassman, Adam. "Your Biggest Dressing Dilemmas—Solved!". O, The Oprah Magazine. Harpo, Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  5. Glassman, Adam. "Dress 10 Pounds Slimmer!". O, The Oprah Magazine. Harpo, Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  6. Malacoff, Julia. "100 Summer Dresses Under $100, Slide 4". Redbook. Hearst Communication, Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  7. Malacoff, Julia. "Date-Night Dresses Under $100, Slide 93". Redbook. Hearst Communication, Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  8. "People Style Watch". Eberjay. Eberjay. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  9. "A Passion for Fashion: Cerberus Buys Rafaella, May Bid for Saks Chain". EBSCO Host. EBSCO Publishing. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  10. "Perry Ellis International Press Release". Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  11. "Perry Ellis to buy Rafaella Apparel for $70M". Daily Business Review. ALM Media Properties, LLC. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  12. "Nicolette Mason". Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  13. "First Look: Rafaella Spring 2012". The Fabulous Report.
  14. "Perry Ellis International Taps Denise Miller as President of Rafaella Sportswear". BusinessWire.
  15. "Karol Rosa". Univision.com. Univision Communications Inc.
  16. Starks, Sierra Leone. "Karol Rosa Flaunts Her Curves as New Rep for Rafaella Brand". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  17. "Karol Rosa Official Website".
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