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[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