Andrew rosen theory biography

American retail executive

Andrew Rosen
Nationality	American
Occupation	CEO of Theory
Spouse	Jenny Dyer
Children	2

Andrew Rosen is an American retail executive.

Andrew Rosen is a pioneer in the contemporary fashion market, co-founding Theory with Elie Tahari in In , he stepped down as Chief Executive of the company, but will remain in an advisory role, spending half of his day on Theory and the other half on other pursuits.

Currently C.E.O. of Theory, Inc., a New York City-based clothing retailer he co-founded in , Rosen is a third-generation garment industry entrepreneur.^[1] Rosen has served for years as a judge in the CFDA Fashion Awards, and as a mentor to many of its finalists.

Rosen has been a key investor in a number of emerging American designers, including Alice + Olivia, J Brand, Rag & Bone, and Proenza Schouler.^[2]

Early life

Rosen grew up immersed in the Novel York City garment industry.

His first job was in a knitting mill on Long Island, operating punch cards.^[1] His grandfather Arthur Rosen, a Russian immigrant and a skilled garment cutter, founded the Puritan Dress Corporation in in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Theory is a New York City—based men's and women's contemporary fashion label which sells clothes and accessories. The collection performed good and a men's line was added in Ina license accord was formed with Link International of Japan, established into manufacture, and distribute the brand as well as operate stores under the Theory name in Asia, predominantly Japan. Women's handbags and shoes were introduced inand launched nationally in the U.

His son Carl took over the business in the s, and relocated it to New York City's department store district.^[1] Carl Rosen changed the company's label to the Puritan Fashions Corporation.^[3]

In Carl Rosen produced the first designer jeans, with a license from Calvin Klein.

Barry Schwartz, Klein's business partner at the time, told the Wall Avenue Journal: Carl proposed giving us $1 for a $ pair of jeans that sold for $40 retailwe wound up selling 15 million pairs a year at the peak.^[2] Puritan continued to license merchandise with other designers, including a clothing line with Diane von Furstenberg.^[1] By Carl Rosen's death in , the company's sales totaled nearly $ million.^[3]

Corporate career

Andrew Rosen dropped out college after one year at the University of Miami.^[1] At 26, Rosen took over as C.E.O.

of Puritan after his father's death, but oversaw flagging profits. Calvin Klein and Barry Schwartz acquired the firm after a year, inviting Rosen to stay on as an executive, and four years later named him company president.^[1] Rosen quit Puritan to work as C.E.O.

of Anne Klein for six years.

Andrew Rosen is a pioneer in the contemporary fashion market, co-founding Theory with Elie Tahari in Rosen sold the majority of his shares in Theory in to Japan's Fast Retailing, but retains an 11 percent share and continues to run the company.

According to the New Yorker, he was fired from Anne Klein "because of disagreements over the brand's strategy".^[1] In , Rosen partnered with the designer Elie Tahari to found Theory. Rosen and Tahari's most important approach innovation was the introduction of technically sophisticated stretch fabrics to a modern business silhouette.^[1] The Wall Street Journal writes that "Rosen bet that he could build a business on unfussy, well-made pants and shirts with no auteur behind them, and he won big."^[2] By , the company had annual sales of over $ million (1),^[1] and Rosen and Tahari sold the label to its Japanese licensee, Link Holdings.^[2]

Rosen kept an 11 percent stake in the business, however, which he sold once its holding company brought Theory public in ^[2] In , Rosen hired Belgian planner Olivier Theyskens as Theory's artistic director.

The move was intended to keep Theory competitive with brands like Alexander Wang and Phillip Lim, who were making inroads in the 'contemporary' market with critically acclaimed designer collections.^[4] Theysken left Theory in June , after his capsule collection for the company failed to drive significant sales.

Rosen replaced him with former Theory brain designer Lisa Kulson.^[5]

Support for Recent York City garment manufacturing

Rosen has been a major supporter of the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative of the New York City Economic Development Corporation,^[1] which aims to strengthen the garment sector in New York City by offering grants, training, and resource-sharing to clothing companies.^[6] Rosen's own Theory, Inc.

maintains a garment factory on Little West Twelfth Road, close to headquarters, for the production of sample garments.^[1]

In , Theory did 30 percent of its manufacturing in New York, and Rosen has expressed interest in bringing more.^[5] According to the New Yorker, New York's garment district supported as many as , jobs fifty years ago.

By , this number had fallen to around 21,^[1]The clothing industry doesn't have to go to the volume that it used to be, Rosen has said.

Andrew Rosen (retail executive) - Wikiwand: Andrew Rosen is an American retail executive. Currently C.E.O. of Theory, Inc., a New York City-based clothing retailer he co-founded in , Rosen is a third-generation garment industry entrepreneur. [1] Rosen has served for years as a judge in the CFDA Fashion Awards, and as a mentor to many of its finalists.

His aim is that the quality and integrity of our industry is maintained an improved upon. Rosen sees new industry growth coming from luxury apparel manufacturing, a sector which has migrated from New York to cities like Paris and Milan.^[1]

Personal life

Rosen is married to Jenny Dyer.

He has two children with his first wife. Ashley Rosen is an athlete and the owner/founder of FULLYcommitted. Austin Rosen has worked at Theory and Rag & Bone, and founded the music management strong Electric Feel.^[2][7]

Rosen is a lifelong horse racing aficionado and owns more than fifty racehorses.

His stallion Chief's Crown was a Breeders' Cup winner.^[1]

References