Rachel Roy

Roy was born in San Bernardino County, California, and raised in Seaside, California, as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She graduated from Seaside High School.{{cite news| author =Alisha Petro| title =Oprah loves her. Michelle Obama does too. How Seaside's own Rachel Roy became one of the hottest names in New York.| newspaper =Monterey County Weekly| date =March 22, 2012| url =http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/cover/oprah-loves-her-michelle-obama-does-too-how-seaside-s/article_a1cdef35-7d82-571d-b195-2e5f96cc9260.html| access-date =April 28, 2015| archive-date =July 5, 2019| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190705184135/http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/cover/oprah-loves-her-michelle-obama-does-too-how-seaside-s/article_a1cdef35-7d82-571d-b195-2e5f96cc9260.html| url-status =live| df =mdy-all}} Her brother Rajendra Roy is the chief film curator of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.{{cite news| author = Thelma Adams| title =The Moviegoer: MoMA's Chief Curator of Film on Being Grounded in New York| quote =In January, you left Sundance early to jet to Washington with your sister, the designer Rachel Roy, for Michelle Obama’s 50th birthday party. Spill.|newspaper=The New York Observer| date = April 15, 2014| url =http://observer.com/2014/04/the-chief-curator-of-film-at-moma-on-being-grounded-in-a-city-like-new-york/| access-date =September 16, 2015}} Roy's mother is Dutch and her father is Bengali Indian.{{cite news| author =Phillygrrl| title =Rachel Roy Makes Vanity Fair's Best-Dressed List| quote =Rachel’s father was a Bengali immigrant who came to the US from Madras.| website =Sepia Mutiny| date = August 4, 2009| url =http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2009/08/04/rachael_roy_mak/| access-date =September 16, 2015}} Roy attended Columbia Union College (now called Washington Adventist University) in Takoma Park, Maryland{{cite news| author =Sierra Tishgart| title =9 Fashion Designers on How They Chose Their College and Major| work =Teen Vogue| date =2012| url =http://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/fashion-designers-colleges-majors#7| access-date =April 28, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160312132223/http://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/fashion-designers-colleges-majors | archive-date= March 12, 2016|url-status=live}} and left to move to New York City where she worked as a wardrobe stylist and interned at the fashion label Rocawear.

At Rocawear, she rose to the position of creative director of the women's and children's divisions and met her future husband, Damon Dash.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Alicea |date=2020-02-21 |title=Rachel Roy: Everything you need to know about Damon Dash's ex-wife |url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/celebrity/rachel-roy-everything-you-need-to-know-about-damon-dashs-ex-wife/ |access-date=2021-12-30 |website=Monsters and Critics |language=en-US}} In 2004, Roy launched her eponymous fashion collection.{{cite web| url= https://www.rachelroy.com/pages/about| title= About| publisher= Rachel Roy official website| access-date= April 24, 2016| archive-date= August 9, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160809074611/https://www.rachelroy.com/pages/about| url-status= live| df= mdy-all}} File:RachelRoyFeb05.jpgIn early 2006, Roy received a Bollywood industry award for her contribution to American fashion. In 2007, Roy was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America.{{cite web|author=Rachel Roy |url=http://www.cfda.com/members/?member_id=721&tab=q |title=CFDA |publisher=CFDA |access-date=2012-05-15}} In June 2008, Jones Apparel Group formed a joint venture with the Rachel Roy brand.{{cite web | title=Jones Apparel Group Launches Rachel Roy Diffusion Brand Exclusive to Macy's, Inc. | work=PR Newswire | url=http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-16-2009/0005007098&EDATE | access-date=December 10, 2010}} However, in 2013, Jones decided to sell itself to another company and to liquidate the Rachel Roy brand. They also planned to sell her trademarks to another firm. Roy fought back and sued Jones Apparel. The judge agreed that she held 100% creative control of her company and could decide on the buyer. The suit was settled and eventually sold to Sycamore Partners.{{Cite web|last=Ransom|first=Diana|date=2015-10-01|title=How Designer Rachel Roy Battled to Win Back Her Fashion Empire|url=https://www.inc.com/diana-ransom/rachel-roy-entrepreneur-grace-under-pressure.html|access-date=2021-11-02|website=Inc.com|language=en}} As of 2021, her fashion company, Royale Etenia LLC., operates in partnership with Topson Downs. Royale owns 36% of the company and Dash and Roy maintain a 50-50 ownership of Royale.

Roy also received publicity in the teen market, including in Teen Vogue; in its April 2009 issue, Rachel did a "how to", where she transforms a regular T-shirt into an edgy prom dress.{{cite web | title=Fancy That | work=Teen Vogue | url=http://www.teenvogue.com/style/tips/diy/2009/03/do-it-yourself-rachel-roy_090309 | access-date=April 10, 2009}}

In August 2009, Roy launched The RACHEL Rachel Roy collection, an affordable diffusion line of sportswear, shoes, and accessories. The label "RACHEL Rachel Roy" is available exclusively at Macy’s in the United States and at The Bay in Canada. Also in summer 2009, Roy and Grammy Award-winning British pop singer Estelle announced via Roy’s Twitter feed their collaboration on a jewelry line for the Spring 2010 RACHEL Rachel Roy collection.{{cite web | title=ALL A TWITTER: Rachel Roy will partner with Estelle to create a jewelry line | work=WWD | date=28 July 2009 | url=http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/time-for-an-app-uniqlo-visits-paris-a-trophy-for-marc-jacobs-2223863?src=rss/fashion/20090728#/article/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/time-for-an-app-uniqlo-visits-paris-a-trophy-for-marc-jacobs-2223863?page=5 | access-date=August 1, 2009}} Roy designed a capsule collection in partnership with model Jessica Stam for Macy's stores and RachelRoy.com in Fall 2010.{{cite web | title=Rachel Roy Taps Jessica Stam to Help Design | work=NY | date=March 2010 | url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/threadny/THREAD-Rachel-Roy-Taps-Jessica-Stam-to-Help-Design-for-Rachel-Line-85821337.html | access-date=March 5, 2010}} Roy has received many honors for her efforts as a designer, including an ACE AWARD in November 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/iman-and-rachel-roy-at-the-ace-awards/|title=Star Gazing: Iman and Rachel Roy at the ACE Awards|website=Essence|date=November 2, 2010 }} She is an advisor to World of Children, a national non-profit organization that serves underprivileged kids.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaspora.org/qa-with-fashion-designer-and-un-ambassador-rachel-roy/|title=Q&A with fashion designer and UN Ambassador Rachel Roy|website=indiaspora.org|date=March 8, 2019}}

In 2018, she was named a UN Women Champion for Innovation, and rewarded for her work with the UN to advocate for gender equality and bring awareness to related issues.{{Cite web |last=Lockwood |first=Lisa|date=March 5, 2018 |title=Rachel Roy designs mini Love collection for International Women's Day|url=https://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-wwd-rachel-roy-love-colleciton-20180305-story.html|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Berger|first=Sarah

|date=March 8, 2018 |title=UN ambassador, designer Rachel Roy: Nothing happens alone, 'no matter how hard you work'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/03/08/inside-rachel-roys-new-role-as-un-ambassador.html|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=cnbc.com |language=en-US}} Roy is also an author. In 2015, she wrote her first book, Design your Life. 96 Words for Love, which she cowrote with daughter Ava, was published in 2019.

Clients include Michelle Obama,{{cite web|url=http://mrs-o.com/newdata/tag/rachel-roy |title=Home - Mrs.O - Follow the Fashion and Style of First Lady Michelle Obama |publisher=Mrs.O |access-date=2012-05-15}} Diane Sawyer, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner, Kim Kardashian, Iman, Lucy Liu, Sharon Stone, Tyra Banks, Wendy Williams, Penélope Cruz, {{cite web|url=http://www.style.com/peopleparties/parties/slideshow/newyork-110210_Accessories_Council_Excellence_Awards/?iphoto=1 |title=Style.com |publisher=Style.com |access-date=2012-05-15}} and Melania Trump.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

Rachel Roy divorced her first husband Yinka Dare, before his death from cardiac arrhythmia in 2004.{{cite news| last = Orton | first = Kathy | date = January 11, 2004 | title = 'Gentle Giant' Dare Had Heart Murmur at GW | newspaper = The Washington Post | page = | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/01/12/gentle-giant-dare-had-heart-murmur-at-gw/8d9ce1a6-94a3-4864-8aca-608de395d939/|quote= ...Yinka Dare was survived by his former wife, Rachel (Roy), his father, Gabriel, his mother, Joan, his sisters, Christina and Tobi, and his brother, Michael. }} Rachel and Damon Dash married in late 2004,{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/damon_dash_marr/|title=Damon Dash marries longtime girlfriend after getting groupie pregnant|work=People | date= January 19, 2005 |access-date= April 24, 2016| quote= ...wed ...over the holiday break.}} or in 2005,{{cite news| url=http://www.inc.com/diana-ransom/rachel-roy-entrepreneur-grace-under-pressure.html| date= October 1, 2015|access-date= April 24, 2016| title=How Designer Rachel Roy Battled to Win Back Her Fashion Empire|work=Inc. | first=Diana|last=Ransom | quote= ...the 41-year-old entrepreneur... }} and have two daughters.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/hip-hop-flop-damon-dash-wife-rachel-roy-files-divorce-article-1.367631 |title=Hip-hop flop Damon Dash's wife Rachel Roy files for divorce |first1=Jose |last1=Martinez |newspaper=Daily News |date=March 24, 2009 |access-date=April 24, 2016}} She filed for divorce in 2009. In April 2015, Roy was awarded sole custody of both daughters; she filed for an order of protection against Dash. The court granted Roy and her daughters a three-year restraining order against Dash.{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/648585/rachel-roy-gets-custody-of-kids-and-a-restraining-order-against-damon-dash-all-the-details|title=Rachel Roy Gets Custody of Kids and a Restraining Order Against Damon Dash—All the Details|date=21 April 2015|work=E! Online}} Days later, Dash filed a lawsuit against her, alleging breach of fiduciary duties and other claims related to Royale Etenia, a fashion company they founded during their marriage.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/damon-dash-strikes-back-at-791231|title=Damon Dash Strikes Back at Ex-Wife Rachel Roy With $2.5 Million Claims|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter | date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=April 24, 2016| first=Eriq |last=Gardner}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/rachel-roy-gets-a-restraining-order-against-ex-damon-dash/|title=Rachel Roy gets a restraining order against ex Damon Dash|date=26 May 2015 |publisher=Fox News}}

• Indians in the New York City metropolitan area

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Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:American fashion designers

Category:American people of Dutch descent

Category:American people of Indian descent

Category:American businesspeople

Category:People from San Bernardino County, California

Category:People from Seaside, California

Category:American people of Bengali descent

Category:American women fashion designers

Category:21st-century American businesswomen