DEB MAXWELL

A graduate of Purdue University and The Fashion Institute of Technology, in 1984 Deb began her career in the fashion industry at the Neiman Marcus headquarter in Dallas. She subsequently landed in New York serving as a U.S. representative of illustrious European designers, Valentino, Ferre’, and Armani. Being submerged in environments of finely honed style, clear creative vision and impeccable quality standards, Deb spent significant time in Europe (Italy, France, Germany) while in the twenty year employ of these luxury goods designers. Her work transported her across the Atlantic more than three hundred times where the arts, architecture, lifestyles, and expanded cultural perspective broadened her appreciation for all things beautiful.

Having put career first over a progressive twenty-two year career, Deb retired in late 2006 with the objective of “living” the next chapter of her life. She always loved the flea markets and antique shops at home and abroad. Upon retirement, Deb studied “Antiques Connoisseurship” under Louise Devenish at the Parsons School of Design in New York. Her home has been selected and featured in the Hoboken Museum House Tour.

The name MAXWELL’S 9.13.34 is dedicated to the birth of a great man, Deb’s late father, a mentor of pristine character and an exemplary self built entrepreneur. The business is more a project of passion than it is work. The absolute freedom from all things corporate is a labor of love and has resulted in an organically grown small business adventure.

Deb’s greatest objective is to deliver products that will become your heirlooms while reflecting and enhancing an individual style that is yours and yours alone.

PROFESSIONAL BIO:

Produced by Tracy Paul & Associates, Public Relations Firm, New York, New York, Sept. 2006 release

Deb Maxwell most recently served the founding President and CEO of Strenesse USA Incorporated, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Germany based Strenesse AG. The entrepreneurial opportunity of establishing a new U.S. subsidiary presented itself in 2000 at which point Ms. Maxwell joined the Strenesse group responsible for building Strenesse USA Incorporated from ground up. With the U.S. company up and running, Ms. Maxwell has departed from running Strenesse’s day-to-day operations which included merchandising, marketing, finance, and strategy in order to enjoy personal interests. Most recently, she oversaw the family of Strenesse brands sold and distributed to the North American market, which included Strenesse Gabriele Strehle Womens Ready to Wear and Accessories luxury collections as well Strenesse Blue Womenswear and Accessories lifestyle collections.

Ms. Maxwell’s passion for fashion developed at an early age by her mother, a master seamstress. She learned how to sew at eight years old and by the end of high school, won the annual 4-H Fashion Review for the state of Indiana which subsequently led her to National 4-H Club Congress. Armed with an extensive background in the technical aspects of apparel construction, Ms. Maxwell sought a college education with a focus on the business side of fashion. She graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Retail Management and subsequently was recognized with Purdue’s School Of Consumer And Family Sciences Outstanding Young Professional Award in 1997. In 2005 Ms. Maxwell was selected as one of ten of Purdue University’s Old Masters. The Old Masters program is a 55 year old tradition at the University using the word “old” in reference to one’s life experiences rather than their age recognizing outstanding individuals through a rigorous selection process who come from diverse professions, backgrounds, and age ranges. In the fall of 2005, she joined Purdue University students in the classroom and in their various housing units under the Old Masters theme “Today’s Legacies Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders”. Ms. Maxwell was one of ten honorary Old Masters. Others included Max Armstrong (WGN Co-Host), Andrew B. Maner (President George W. Bush appointed CFO for the Department of Homeland Security at The White House), Julian Phillips (Co-Anchor Channel 5 Fox & Friends Weekend), and Dr. Peter Schneider (Producer of Tony Award Winning The Lion King & Aida, and former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios), among others.
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/html3month/2005/051104.Webb.masters.html
http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/about/awards/alumni_awards/past_alumni_awards.html

Additionally, Ms. Maxwell earned a degree in Fashion Buying & Merchandising from The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Ms. Maxwell began her twenty-three year career by being selected out of 14,000 accepted applicants to be one of the 32 members of Neiman Marcus’ prestigious Executive Development Program. She continued her focus on the luxury apparel and accessory markets, serving as the U.S. representative in sales, merchandising, and marketing for top European-based design houses, including Valentino, Gianfranco Ferre, Giorgio Armani, and Strenesse as well as heading up the American design house,Badgley Mischka. Prior to her position at Strenesse, Ms. Maxwell served as the Senior Vice President of the Giorgio Armani Le Collezioni Women’s business from 1995 through 2000. Under her supervision, total U.S. sales volume for Giorgio Armani’s women’s collection doubled, profits tripled and distribution was strategically pulled back by 27 percent.

Ms. Maxwell currently resides in the water front community of Hoboken, New Jersey. In previous years, Ms. Maxwell’s time was divided between the U.S. and Northern Italy while working under the auspices of designers Giorgio Armani and Gianfranco Ferre’, and Southern Germany while with Strenesse.  Philanthropically, Ms. Maxwell supports the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Porter County 4-H and Morgan Twp. High School Scholarship initiatives in support of her local home town youth programs.  She is a member of the American Society of Jewelry Historians.