Zachary Leon Solomon, who by way of a protracted profession in trend and retail presided over such high-profile manufacturers as Perry Ellis, Adrienne Vittadini and Ellen Tracy, died Aug. 15.
Solomon handed away peacefully of pure causes in Sarasota, Fla., on the age of 91, based on his son, Michael Solomon.
“Zach was a storyteller at coronary heart, who might discuss a garment, a trend pattern, or a optimistic gross sales report with unbridled enthusiasm and a Proustian consideration to element,” stated Michael Solomon. “Zach usually stated he couldn’t wait to go to work every day as a result of he so beloved what he did. ‘Not good, not nice…Improbable’ was his irresistible, signature expression to explain the issues he beloved in life, of which there appeared an inexhaustible provide.”
Others described Solomon as having a beneficiant, infectious persona that crammed the room, notably together with his massive body and distinctive full head of white hair. Additionally they stated he was captivated with many features of his life, significantly his household, pals, enterprise, sports activities and enjoying bridge.
“Zach’s persona was as huge as he was. He beloved life, soccer, family and friends to the fullest,” stated his second spouse, Sue Phillips, founder and chief govt officer of Scenterprises Inc.
The son of an immigrant tailor and homemaker, Solomon’s life epitomized the American Dream. He was born within the Bronx, and grew up poor within the Belle Harbor part of Queens. “Having by no means eaten in a restaurant till he was 17, he spent the remainder of his life making up for misplaced time,” stated his son.
Earlier than discovering his skilled approach, Solomon parked automobiles at Lundy’s, the well-known however now-defunct seafood restaurant in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. In his early 20s, Solomon left a job at his brother-in-law’s mattress manufacturing facility in California, returned to New York, and utilized to the patrons coaching program at Abraham & Straus, the previous division retailer chain that was primarily based in Brooklyn earlier than consolidating into Macy’s in 1994. Naively clad in a T-shirt and denims, Solomon was nonetheless accepted into this system as a result of he acquired the very best rating on the time on the Wonderlic check, which has been extensively utilized by employers to guage job candidates.
Over the course of many years Solomon rose by way of the retail ranks to turn out to be president of the Emporium division retailer chain, which was primarily based in San Francisco, and later, vice chairman of the Might Division Shops Co., a conglomerate of regional shops that included Emporium, which was additionally taken over by Macy’s (then referred to as Federated) in 2005. Solomon was president and chief govt officer of Related Merchandising Corp. (AMC), which was a New York-based cooperative of non-competing shops that shared product improvement applications and promoting reviews.
From retailing, Solomon transitioned to management roles within the designer world. In 1998, he turned president and CEO of Adrienne Vittadini, a model recognized for its high quality knitwear, round when the corporate was acquired amid powerful enterprise circumstances, and Vittadini left the enterprise.
“Girls wish to purchase garments they both can go to work in or to the nation membership, or have the ability to run an errand and nonetheless have the ability to put on it within the night,” he instructed WWD upon becoming a member of Vittadini. “Because of this they love knits. They’re light-weight. It’s extra informal in feeling but it might nonetheless be very subtle, so it suits their life-style higher.”
Earlier, Solomon served as president of Ellen Tracy, as soon as thought of a number one assortment priced beneath designer labels; govt vice chairman of Manhattan Industries and president and CEO of its Perry Ellis division; CEO of Child Togs, which included BT Youngsters, Child Togs and Liz Claiborne Youngsters divisions, and president and chief working officer of Finity Attire Group, a greater and up to date sportswear producer. Late in his profession, he based a males’s and boy’s agency with the designer Paul La Fontaine.
Michael Gould, former chairman and CEO of Bloomingdale’s, met Solomon 54 years in the past when he was the group supervisor of the house retailer at Abraham & Straus in Babylon, N.Y., reporting to Solomon, then the assistant retailer supervisor there. They remained pals ever since.
“One of the best ways to explain Zach is as the last word everlasting optimist,” stated Gould. “He had a zest for residing. He loved life a lot and made everybody round him smile and snicker.”
Trade veteran Neal Fox, as govt vice chairman of the previous I. Magnin luxurious retailer in San Francisco, knew Solomon, who was then president of the Emporium division retailer. “I all the time had the sensation that Zach was a real service provider, and intensely brilliant at what he did. He was additionally enjoyable to be round. You wished to hang around with him,” stated Fox.
“Zach was a pricey pal. I stored in contact with him recurrently,” stated Sharon Wax, a former AMC senior vice chairman concerned in creating imports, who reported to Solomon. “He was so curious and pushed to seek for what was subsequent. He was additionally an amazing mentor, all the time advocating for me, and motivating me to take a look at the enterprise from a number of angles, to be continuously questioning.
“Once we traveled, he inspired me to absorb the tradition wherever we had been,” stated Wax. “As soon as on the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the traces for the present we wished to see had been so lengthy, we couldn’t get in, however Zach took us across the block and led us by way of the exit, and we noticed the exhibit. He inspired a love of the humanities.”
“Zach was a dynamic, highly effective chief who cared about his crew. He actually believed in rising and creating his folks,” recalled Invoice Baer, former human assets govt at AMC who labored intently with Solomon, earlier than later working at Bloomingdale’s. “He was an amazing service provider with a powerful viewpoint who led from the entrance. He was so captivated with so many issues, even his San Francisco 49ers,” the skilled soccer crew. “All of us felt obligated to examine the soccer scores earlier than our Monday morning administration committee conferences.”
“Zachary was a pricey man,” stated Vittadini. “He joined us after we bought the corporate and I used to be beneath contract to finish my phrases. I actually was fairly upset on the time. There was a whole lot of trauma, however I used to be so completely happy to see Zachary a number of years after I completed my profession in trend and began in structure constructing high-end houses, I noticed him in Florida. He was an exquisite man.”
“My father grew up loving sports activities,” stated Michael Solomon, including that his dad was most passionate following the Brooklyn Dodgers, in addition to the San Francisco 49ers. “He might be delivered to tears by the easy utterance of his childhood hero’s title, Jackie Robinson,” stated Michael. He additionally beloved music, recurrently attending the New York Philharmonic and all the time grateful to listen to his two favourite items on the radio: Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 and “Ship within the Clowns.”
Solomon endowed a scholarship at Brooklyn Faculty, his alma mater, grateful for his free schooling there. He turned a Ruby Life Grasp as a bridge participant in retirement, and by no means stopped enjoying pinochle together with his Brooklyn faculty fraternity brothers.
Along with his son Michael, Solomon is survived by his three different kids, Lisa “Leah” Solomon, Andrew Solomon, and Romy Solomon; seven grandchildren; his daughter-in-law Sarah Solomon; son-in-law Santiago Alcala; his first spouse Eve Gerson; his second spouse Sue Phillips, and his present companion, Julie Thompson. Particulars on a memorial service shall be introduced at a later date.
Zachary Leon Solomon
Courtesy photograph
