[Image left to right: David Neville and Marcus Wainwright.]
They say when things or opportunities manifest, it can happen all at once like a speeding bullet. David Neville told BoF: “Ten years ago in June, I turned 30, got married and Andrew [Rosen] became our partner, all in one week. When we came back from my wedding, we got our first office.”
After almost a decade he wants to try new things and Marcus Wainwright, his longterm business partner, will take the full title as CEO. But Neville will keep his seat on the company’s board of directors and remain a shareholder. Wainwright and Neville have known each other since boarding school days. Neville added: “To be able to build a brand from nothing showed an awful lot of determination, ambition, grit and trust in one another to make it happen. I think that people could always see that Marcus and I were very committed and dedicated to what we wanted to achieve.” It just goes to show what the power of skill and determination can achieve. According to market sources in 2016 Rag & Bone generated $300 million in revenue and overall sales are up by 20 per cent.
Andrew Rosen said: “I remember when they came to see me the first time. They didn’t have an office. They didn’t have an employee. Nothing. To put this kind of company together in 10 years, to have that kind of success? These guys have built an incredible, powerful voice in this space. I am so proud.”
There’s no doubt that Neville has been inspired by his mentor because he also plans to scout emerging labels. “I’m looking at investing in some fashion brands in the same way Andrew did with us all those years ago. I really enjoy the work that we do with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. I find it exciting to go in and talk to some of these young brands about where they are and what they’re trying to achieve. I would love be able to give them some guidance the same way Andrew did with us back in 2006,” concluded Neville.
Currently, there are 22 Rag & Bone stores in the United States, including a Madison Avenue location set to open next week. Internationally, there’s one store in London and franchise stores in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, UAE, Lebanon and Thailand, where there are two locations.
