Rafaella
{{Short description|Women's clothing brand}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Rafaella
|logo =
|type = Subsidiary
|parent = Perry Ellis International
|foundation = 1982
|location = Miami, FL
|products = Women's Clothing
|homepage = [http://www.rafaellasportswear.com/ www.rafaellasportswear.com]
}}
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.
History
The Rafaella brand name was established under the company Rafaella Apparel Group, Inc. in 1982{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=4264542|work=Bloomberg Business Week|accessdate=20 September 2013|title = Company Overview of Rafaella Apparel Group, Inc}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rafaellasportswear.com/about-us/about-us.html|accessdate=2013-09-19|title = Rafaella; About Us}} The brand has been featured in several issues of O, The Oprah Magazine and on the Oprah Winfrey Show
{{cite web|last=Glassman|first=Adam|title=O What a Buy: The Interview Kit|url=http://www.oprah.com/style/The-Rafaella-Interview-Kit-Dressing-for-an-Interview|work=O, The Oprah Magazine|publisher=Harpo, Inc.}}{{cite web|last=Glassman|first=Adam|title=Your Biggest Dressing Dilemmas—Solved!|url=http://www.oprah.com/style/Solutions-for-Muffin-Tops-Back-Fat-How-to-Hide-Turkey-Neck/3|work=O, The Oprah Magazine|publisher=Harpo, Inc.|accessdate=20 September 2013}}{{cite web|last=Glassman|first=Adam|title=Dress 10 Pounds Slimmer!|url=http://www.oprah.com/style/Summer-Dresses-That-Make-You-Look-Thin-Fashion-Makeovers/2|work=O, The Oprah Magazine|publisher=Harpo, Inc.|accessdate=20 September 2013}} and has been the subject of fashion editorials and reviews for its women's dress pants, dress shirts, dresses, and swim/sportswear.{{cite web|last=Malacoff|first=Julia|title=100 Summer Dresses Under $100, Slide 4|url=http://www.redbookmag.com/beauty-fashion/tips-advice/summer-dresses-rafaella-1x1-lifesaver#slide-4|work=Redbook|publisher=Hearst Communication, Inc.|accessdate=20 September 2013}}{{cite web|last=Malacoff|first=Julia|title=Date-Night Dresses Under $100, Slide 93|url=http://www.redbookmag.com/beauty-fashion/deals/sexy-dresses-rafaella#slide-93|work=Redbook|publisher=Hearst Communication, Inc.|accessdate=20 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=People Style Watch|url=http://www.eberjey.com/swim/in-the-news/2012-apr-peoplestylewatch/|work=Eberjay|accessdate=20 September 2013}}
=Management Changes and Expansion=
Rafaella Apparel Group was bought by Cerberus Capital Management
and was later sold in January 2011 to its current owner, Perry Ellis International for $70 million USD.
Perry Ellis International expanded the brand, continuing its dresswear line while broadening its focus on dresses and sportswear.{{cite web|title=Nicolette Mason|url=http://www.nicolettemason.com/2011/10/rafaella-ss12-style-council.html|accessdate=20 September 2013}}
Under Perry Ellis, the brand's new looks gained positive reviews
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.{{cite web|title=Perry Ellis International Taps Denise Miller as President of Rafaella Sportswear|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120716006049/en|work=BusinessWire}} Another major management change was subsequently made in 2013 when Karol Rosa, model and co-host of Sabado Gigante,{{cite web|title=Karol Rosa|url=http://tv.univision.com/sabado-gigante/elenco/article/2012-01-11/karol-rosa-bio-sg|work=Univision.com|publisher=Univision Communications Inc.}} was hired as the Brand Ambassador for Rafaella.{{cite web|last=Starks|first=Sierra Leone|title=Karol Rosa Flaunts Her Curves as New Rep for Rafaella Brand|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/cosmo-latina/karol-rosa-rafaella-collection-interview|work=Cosmopolitan|publisher=Hearst Communications, Inc.|accessdate=20 September 2013}}
{{cite web|url=http://karolrosa.com/|title=Karol Rosa Official Website}} Despite the ownership and management changes, the company remains headquartered in New York City.