Fall 2003 Accessories

Randell Dodge Fall 2003
(Photo courtesy of Randell Dodge)

Press Contact for Randell Dodge:
Diana Bianchini
Di Moda Public Relations
Tel: (323) 466 4000
Email: diana@dimodapr.com

One of Randell Dodge’s earliest memories revolved around a shopping trip with her mother. Randell was instantly drawn to the luxurious accessories – the structured handbag, the lady-like pump. Accessories quickly became her obsession. From that moment on, her nose was planted in every fashion magazine she could find, or watching old movies and their film divas, enthralled with their forever classic glamour.

Randell mastered fine art at the High School of Art and Design in New York before continuing on at Bennington College, where she graduated with a BFA in Painting and Sculpture. With this fine education under her wing, she was ready to fly. Her career began as a design apprentice for Connie Bates, owner of Fahrenheit in New York, working with clay and leather. It was there that she learned how art could be translated into fashion and how much she enjoyed creating things that people could wear. This experience then translated itself into designing leather-embellished wraps and handbags, and costumes for a London based Rock and Roll band.

This, talented young lady went on to acquire even more experience in preparation for forming her own company. After a successful handbag partnership, she continued to design for such prominent fashion names such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Susan Bennis Warren Edwards, and Giorgio Armani. Her now, well-rounded resume consists of having designed alligator accessories, cashmere products, private label sportswear, shoes, and handbags. While designing, she also owned Norling Ltd., a fine cashmere company, based in New York and Katmandu, Nepal. Here she designed scarves, shawls, blankets and baby items, which were sold in luxury stores throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe.

In search of synergism for all her creative ideas and talents, she trekked through Nepal along the borders of Tibet and India, an education of its own, photographing the beautiful people in their native raw atmosphere and collecting artifacts and fabrics for inspiration. Upon her return to the states, National Geographic was quick to commend her on her photographic approach and exhibit of cultural awareness. Presently, Randell is creating a book of her moving photographs to benefit the Tibetan children refugees.

Randell’s whole career has been one of integrating her fine arts sensibility into fashion. Instead of using paints and stone, she has created her works of art out of leather and fabric. Even more noteworthy, her entire body of fashion designs was met with instant success.

In 2001, she opened Randell Dodge Ltd. She explains, “My main concentration here is creating a line known for its textures and feel; a line that people would love to hold without any flashy logos or names.” Her clients loved the feel of her handbags so much they used them for pillows when traveling. Again, she was met with incredible response. Before completing final prototypes, she showed samples of her hand-stitched collection to prominent buyers in New York. They recognized the quality and craftsmanship, quickly picking up the line and placing it in several doors.

She has recently introduced a new diffusion line rd2, which is being received with great enthusiasm by her loyal clientele.

Both lines can be viewed at her web site, www.randelldodge.com