Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Dayhoff.
Richard, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was young, I was very interested and observant of how my mother (a hairdresser, who considered her appearance important) dressed, and often gave her fashion suggestions – as a young boy. Also, my paternal grandmother had a sewing machine, and I would visit her weekends, and watch, fascinated, while she worked on it.
At the same time, I improvised fashion (out of socks swiped from my father) for my sisters’ Barbie dolls.
In High School, I instinctively wanted to dress well/look stylish, and (accompanied by my grandmother as a reward for helping her) would go to the local JC Penney to select clothing. And I got a job at a local clothing store called Ditto’s Sportswear, Men’s department.
The menswear bored me, so I always found myself gravitationally pulled to the Women’s department, which was far more interesting. At that point, I realized that I wanted to design clothes myself.
First step: Get out of Rockford. I needed fashion training, so got a scholarship to Illinois State University (Bloomington-Normal) to work in marketing, but also entered Home Economics (there being no Fashion Department there then). I excelled in the course, in which I was the only man (and got the only A). The teacher said that my natural interests in fashion were clearly matched by my natural talent, and she strongly advised me to pursue my dream to design, with schooling from a real design School
I returned (temporarily) to Rockford, while arranging to attend fashion school, for which my grandmother paid. Unusually, my family was hugely supportive of my interests, especially my very creative mother. In autumn of 1981, I moved to Chicago, having arranged to enroll at the International Academy of Design. And as a freshman, I won the designer of the year award in 1982,
In 1983, while still a student at the Academy, a friend and I founded RICHARD DAYHOFF Designs. And the tale of that partnership is itself a product of Fate. Her name was Andrea, and she had run a small store in the Mall, next to Ditto’s where I’d worked. She greatly admired how I made Ditto’s display window so elegant, and told me so at the time.
Andrea and I lost track of each other while I was at Bloomington, but she saw a story in a Rockford newspaper saying that I was attending Design School in Chicago, which was going to hold a design show. Remembering my apparent talent, Andrea made the trek to Chicago (with a broken leg!) to see the show. It was very emotional running into her there, where she praised my work, and offered to help me any way she could.
After I won the prize at that show, the Academy told me that 3 local Chicago boutiques wanted to sell my designs. But I was poor, had no money to make them, so called Andrea for financial backing. She gave it to me, and we became business partners – a woman who put her money where her mouth was, to show her faith in my talent. And that was when RICHARD DAYHOFF Design was born, in 1983.
So I was naturally pulled to women’ fashions – and women’s fashion was “drawn” to me. There are many more unexpected turns to my story – there were even more unusual developments than Andrea’s sudden return to my life – that I can share, if desired. (For example, the task of literally making, with my own hands, my Entire first order. Also, how I became Oprah Winfrey’s dresser; my career has been a case of chance and will, combining to make things happen).
In 1984, after graduating, I premiered my first collection at Chicago’s Fashion Week, and WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY proclaimed me “Chicago’s rising fashion star.”
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a “smooth” road, but the bumps have given me the chance to leap for the stars.
One example of my struggles was the need to be practical and ‘wear many hats’ (managing a small business – for which some courses at Bloomington-Normal IU helped immensely) when my true character is creative, not inclined to such things.
But they had to be done. There was no one else to do them, so I made it all happen, as needed.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into your story. Tell us more about the business.
The name Richard Dayhoff is synonymous with timeless simplicity in the high-fashion world of apparel.
Oprah Winfrey thanked me for “designing with all women in mind.” That is, not only for the ‘model type’ – but successfully making anyone look good, with the simple elegance that is my natural aesthetic.
As to my current projects, they are mostly focused on my men’s Athleisure underwear collection; its marketing information is below.
ATHLEISURE UNDERWEAR COLLECTION
Fall/Winter 18/19
CONTOUR TRUNK
For the guys who want one style of underwear that works for every aspect of their lives.
Best-in-class and a step ahead with innovation, the trunk is made of a heavier gauge 350g sportswear fabric that is more structural, yet they are lightweight on the body. Perfect for travel—and as a gift for someone special—this is functional luxury at its best.
Proudly made in the USA.
Quick-dry
Anti-bacterial
Fade-resistant
Highly absorbent moisture wicking system to keep you high and dry
Extraordinary memory-stretch fabric that holds its shape
Reinforced, non-roll elastic waistband
Luxurious silhouette with a contour pouch and back seam that hugs you in all the right places
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Unlike when I started, the marketing process is no longer “monolithic.” That is, one got into one of the large fashion show, like NY Fashion Week, and if the buyers there liked your products, the stores they represented would carry them.
Today, instead, there are many, smaller means to develop one’s business, in addition to the big shows (social media, popups, etc.). This presents both challenges and opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: richarddayhoff.com
- Email: info@richarddayhoff.com
- Instagram: @richarddayhoff
- Facebook: @richarddayhoff
- Twitter: @richarddayhoff
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
