Renowned Fashion Designer

RANDOLPH DUKE

"Designer To The Stars"

**** ******** ******, *** *******, CA 90038

*********@***.*** - www.randolphduke.net 917-***-****

I possess over 25 years of diverse experience in the fashion industry that has taken me from designing swimwear for some of the most well known brands such as Jantzen, Anne Cole Collection, Cole of California, and Gottex to opening my own fashion house with the RANDOLPH DUKE brand in New York and ultimately RANDOLPH DUKE COUTURE in Hollywood and Los Angeles. I welcomed many exciting opportunities such as resurrecting the iconic HALSTON brand in 1996 as its Chief Creative and Design Director responsible for designing the Designer and Couture Collections as well as it's popular priced Lifestyle Collection and overseeing more than 25 licensees, to Design Directing for HENRI BENDEL stores, KENAR... and Creative Directing their Contemporary Sportswear Collections at the height of their success, and also serving as an On Air Fashion expert for ABC covering The Academy Awards, Grammys, Emmys, American Music Awards with my fashion commentary.

I feel however it is my experience with HSN (HOME SHOPPING NETWORK) and building a 45 million dollar brand within the network and creating a loyal following of women everywhere who trust me that means so much to me. I stay vigilant in my education to always remain current in the pop culture of all media, and hyper-aware of lifestyle as well as evolutionary trends on a global level. I follow fashion-forecasting sites, magazines, and integrate cross cultural, sociological, political, demographic, technological, and spiritually related material in to all of my work. Fueled by my dedication to "Helping Women Feel Beautiful" I've always had a passion for my work, and knowing and identifying the must have fashion of the moment, designing the key apparel, beauty and home items that not only reflect the times, but stand the test of time.

My Book ‘THE LOOK, A Guide To Dressing From The Inside Out’, is dedicated to women everywhere and was published in 2006 by Clarkson Potter division of Random House, it went in to International distribution as a result of its success which I feel is the result of its unique approach and dedication to its subject, my muses and inspirations everywhere women!

Work Experience

OWNER, CEO, Chief Design Director and Designer

RANDOLPH DUKE COUTURE- Los Angeles, CA

February 2007 to currently

Responsible for managing, design directing and overseeing this made to order high end atelier and salon operating out of Los Angeles and Hollywood respectively, that creates one of a kind hand made couture products by skilled artisans and is sold to an international clientele, and is worn frequently by the worlds most famous celebrities, entertainers, and actresses including: Hilary Swank, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Anniston, Kim Basinger, Barbra Streisand, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, Leann Rhimes, Minnie Driver, Geena Davis, Ashley Judd, Rachel Bilson, Rebecca Romijn, Allison Janney, Debra Messing and many others.

ON AIR DESIGNER and PERSONALITY

THE LOOK by Randolph Duke, SPIRITED… Randolph Duke, SYMBOL…Randolph Duke

HSN (Home Shopping Network) – Tampa, Florida

August 2001 to November 2011

I conceived, designed, and built a 45 million dollar namesake branded collection of Fashion apparel, Jewelry (Symbol by Randolph Duke), Accessories (shoes, handbags, belts, scarves, etc.), Beauty products, Fragrance (Evolve by Randolph Duke), Home furnishings, and Pet products. I worked with manufacturers and private label distributors worldwide to execute and deliver these diverse products overseeing all design, technical/production approval, and quality control. I appeared monthly on the network selling these products to customers nationwide, and built a loyal following of ever increasing customer support and base. I was consistently considered one of HSN top brands remaining in their “Top Ten List” for the duration of my 10-year experience.

Consultant Design Director and Creative Director

NYDJ (Not Your Daughters Jeans) - Los Angeles, CA

March 2012 to August 2012

Consultant for NYDJ (not Your Daughters Jeans) responsible for conceiving and creating a new division of all items to be worn with the now infamous denim bottoms the brand has become so well known for.

Owner, Design and Creative Director, Chief Senior Designer

RANDOLPH DUKE COLLECTION - New York, NY

January 2002 to November 2008

As chief Design and Creative Director of my eponymous namesake brand I opened a designer price-point collection of Evening Wear that was sold at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, Lord and Taylor, Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdale's, Harrods of London, Harvey Nichols London, Printemp Paris, and the finest specialty stores worldwide. I also oversaw PR and publicity, as well as sales and marketing. I designed 4 collections annually and showed in full runway presentations at New York Fashion Week regularly. My designs were featured in the top fashion magazines including Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, as well as International press including French, Italian, German, and English Vogue, Bazaar, and Elle.

Design and Creative Director, Chief Senior Designer

HALSTON International - New York, NY

January 1996 to December 1998

At Halston, I resurrected the legendary and iconic brand as Chief Design and Creative director conceiving, and directing the new brand image, style and all products overseeing all design and design staff including Assistant Designers, Associate Designers, Technical Designers, Cad and Graphic Design Artists, Atelier Director, Tailors, Seamstresses, and Hand Finishers.

My responsibilities overlapped into administration and operations, as I oversaw more than 25 licensees including (Licensing Director and assistant), Home Furnishings, Outerwear, Menswear, Jewelry, Handbags, Shoes, Fragrance and Beauty and a full Sales Team including Sales Manager, 3 Sales Directors, Associates, and Account Executives as well as a Public Relations team I set up in house, including a Director of PR, assistant PR execs, and an Advertising Director and Assistant. I oversaw and conceived the marketing and advertising campaigns, working with photographer Steven Meisel on the campaigns, which appeared in all of the top fashion magazines.

I worked directly with all of the many celebrities, actresses, and singers and entertainers that became fans of the collection and loyal customers including: Jennifer Lopez, Hilary Swank, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Anniston, Halle Berry, Minnie Driver, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Leann Rimes, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilerra, Britney Spears, Faith Hill, Kim Basinger, Geena Davis, Ashley Judd, Rebecca Romijn, Debra Messing and many more.

Design Director, Creative Director, Director of Product Development and Trend Forecaster

HENRI BENDEL - New York, NY

February 1993 to March 1995

Design and Creative directed all private label and Henri Bendel branded apparel, accessories, jewelry, home products, accessories and more. Responsible for the in house private label design staff including Designer, Assistant Designers, Associate Designers, Technical and Graphic Designers. I interfaced with Sales and Marketing team, and was responsible for seasonal creative direction in Color Forecasting, Trend Analysis, Monthly Best Sellers Report, and determining the ‘Must Have’ items of the season for upcoming Henri Bendel branded merchandise. All mood boards, creative visual tools, as well as in store creative display, visual display, and window dressing teams took direction from me as it related to this merchandise. I traveled regularly to stay aware of all competing retailers, up to the minute fashion and sales trends, as well as new and emerging trends.

Design Director, Chief Designer and Owner

RANDOLPH DUKE – New York, NY

February 1998 to February 2002

Opened, owned and operated RANDOLPH DUKE……my first effort to establish my namesake eponymous brand in New York City. I owned and operated a retail flagship store on New York’s popular Upper West Side, and quickly established a loyal following of customers who purchased my American designer sportswear collection. I designed and design directed all products. After less than one year of success, I opened a wholesale division that made its debut at Saks Fifth Avenue under the prompting and with the support of Fashion Director Ellin Saltzman, a legend in the fashion retail community, who had heard about my new collection from Eleanor Lambert, “The famous doyenne of Public Relations extraordinaire”! It was a blessed and incredibly exciting beginning for me with my brand, and soon began to sell to fine retailers nationwide, and was featured regularly in Vogue, (who gave me a 7 page interview spread as ‘America’s New Designer To Watch’), Elle, Harpers Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many more.

Designer

GOTTEX International – New York, NY

February 1984 to February 1987

Conceive, design and execute a new contemporary collection for National distribution dubbed Viewpoint by Gottex. I was responsible for defining this new brand, and bringing it to fruition from conception to product. Top retailers sold it nationwide, and featured in top fashion magazines and publications. I oversaw a technical staff of patternmakers, sample-makers, fit models, assistant designers, associate designer, technical designer, cad and graphic artists as well as print and textile designers and artists. This invaluable experience inspired me to spread my wings and begin experimenting with sportswear and dresses leading me to ultimately open my own retail store and collection.

Designer

ANNE COLE COLLECTION - Los Angeles, CA

November 1981 to March 1986

Conceived and designed the Anne Cole Collection of Designer Swimwear under the mentoring and partnering of Anne Cole, a legend in the swimwear industry, and daughter of Fred Cole the founder of Cole Of California. This was a new collection of swimwear and related cover-ups, with additional active sportswear. I defined the brand style, look and indicators, as well as overseeing the sample making, patternmaking, and technical support staff. In collaboration with Anne Cole, a true mentor, I gained invaluable knowledge that I have carried with me my entire career.

Designer

JANTZEN - Portland, Oregon

August 1980 to October 1981

Designed and oversaw the sample making process of the Jantzen Swimwear collection, reporting to senior designer. As my first experience out of school in the fashion industry this was an invaluable experience to gain from a leader in its classification. It taught me the value of great fit, first and foremost, as it is paramount to the success of any swimwear product. I carried this knowledge with me as I quickly moved on to new and more challenging opportunities, with greater responsibilities and duties.

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Education

Associates degree FIDM in Design & Merchandising

FIDM - Los Angeles, CA

1978 to 1980

Graduating in 1980 with the highest honors of my class, winning the coveted and prestigious BOB MACKIE AWARD for excellence in Design and 2 Peacock Awards.

UNLV - Las Vegas, NV

1976 to 1979

BA in Music, and Theater Arts

References Available Upon Request

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