Kalman Ruttenstein, 69; Powerful Fashion Figure, Bloomingdale’s Executive
Kalman Ruttenstein, one of the fashion industry’s most powerful retailers, died Thursday at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York of complications from cancer. He was 69.
Known as Kal, Ruttenstein was the face of Bloomingdale’s for three decades and instrumental in establishing the retail chain’s reputation as a leader. As senior vice president of fashion direction, he was a keen trend spotter and a tireless cheerleader for young designers.
A massive man in stature and influence with a gruff exterior, Ruttenstein was one of the few fashion world fixtures who could literally make or break a career. He was passionate about new talent.
Among the designers he mentored were Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Perry Ellis, Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. In recent years, he was often seen wearing Sean John T-shirts along with sweats and silver sneakers -- his daily uniform.
Far more than a store buyer, Ruttenstein was a spokesman for American design who influenced what millions bought and wore.
He was a pioneer in working directly with designers and manufacturers to create exclusive merchandise for his stores.
He courted high-end brands while also working with designers such as Allen Schwartz to create more affordable versions of trendy clothes.
Ruttenstein recognized the synergy between fashion and entertainment, organizing special events, in-store boutiques and window displays inspired by Hollywood and Broadway productions such as “Moulin Rouge,” “Evita,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Hairspray.”
Last month, the flagship Bloomingdale’s on 59th Street in Manhattan launched an in-store “Rent” shop in advance of the film’s release, with a ribbon cutting attended by the cast.
In 1997, Ruttenstein suffered a severe stroke. Despite his decreased mobility, he continued to attend the runway shows in New York, Paris and Milan, where he would be ushered to his front-row seat ahead of the crowd.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Ruttenstein graduated from Princeton with an English degree and earned a master’s from Columbia University’s business school. He worked at Lord and Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bonwit Teller before joining Bloomingdale’s in 1977.
In 2002, he received the Council of Fashion Designers of America award for his exceptional contribution to fashion.
And later that year, having been the only U.S. retailer to travel to Paris for the shows after the Sept. 11 attacks, he received France’s Legion of Honor.
A private funeral will be held in Buffalo. Bloomingdale’s is planning a memorial service.
Instead of flowers, Ruttenstein had requested that donations be made to the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.
