Private services will be held Friday for Herbert Spiegel, the owner of Randa Apparel & Accessories, who died of natural causes at his home in New York City on Thursday. He was 97.
The family’s history in the apparel industry started in 1910 when Samuel Spiegel and his brother Harry began selling neckwear from a pushcart on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Herbert Spiegel joined the family business, then Spiegel Neckwear Co., in 1946 and in 1961 led the family to purchase Randa Neckwear, a company founded by William Rosenburgh and Morris Apotheker in 1935. Four years later, Herbert Spiegel bought out the family’s stakeholders, taking full ownership of Randa.
Under Herbert Spiegel’s guidance, Randa established production in Puerto Rico in 1964 and traveled to Korea to source fabric in 1969, making Randa the first U.S. neckwear company to source fabrics directly from Asia. That same year, he began selling ties in supermarkets, offering two for $1, a discount over the 79 cents it had charged before.
In 1971, Randa secured its first licensing agreement with NikNik, and in 1972, it opened a factory in southern Italy, which would lead to the future creation of Randa’s International Design Center in Como, Italy. In 1979, Herbert Spiegel’s son, Jeffrey Spiegel, joined the company and together they expanded production and distribution capabilities and laid down infrastructure for global growth.
In the 1990s, Randa began acquiring other brands including Woodstock Neckwear in London (1993) and Forsythe Neckwear in Canada (1995). In 1997, Randa acquired Wemco in New Orleans, which transformed the company into the largest neckwear manufacturer in the world.
In 2017, Justin Spiegel, Jeffrey Spiegel’s son, joined the company as assistant general counsel, marking the fourth generation in the business. And in 2019, Randa acquired Haggar Clothing Co. and Tribal Fashion, rebranding the company as Randa Apparel & Accessories (RAA).
After Herbert Spiegel retired as chairman in 2019, the acquisitions continued. In March 2020, Randa created a partnership to acquire Moss Bros., a publicly traded century-old leading men’s retail chain in the United Kingdom. In 2021, Randa entered a joint venture with Euroneck to form Rancal, expanding Randa’s presence in the Mexico market, and in 2024, Randa, together with Marquee Brands, acquired Totes Isotoner, expanding its offering into umbrellas, gloves and slippers.
Today, Randa has sales of more than $2 billion, ranks as the world’s largest leather accessories supplier, belt manufacturer, and owns the top-selling rain and cold weather and tailored apparel brands.
On Thursday, Herbert Spiegel was remembered for caring more about people than profits, treating others with sincerity, working hard and always thinking long-term.
“Herb Spiegel didn’t just build Randa — he built an approach to business that put relationships firs,” said David Katz, Randa’s long-time executive vice president. “His curiosity about people, his generosity toward our associates, and his relentless optimism shaped everything we do. The industry lost a giant, and we lost someone irreplaceable.”
Judy Person, executive vice president of Randa, said Spiegel “approached every day with humor, creativity, and a genuine love of people. He was the most talented salesperson I have ever known, his voice still guides me through moments of doubt and always inspires me to keep pushing forward. I am deeply grateful for all he taught me — his legacy lives on in all of us. It’s truly the end of an era.”
Men’s industry veteran Paul Rosengard, who worked with Spiegel for nearly two decades at Randa, said: “Herb was unique, and hard to describe, he had to be experienced. Working and traveling with him was a virtual graduate school in how to live. At his core, he was a teacher. He taught me how to golf and ski, how to sell neckties and, most importantly, he taught me how to treat all people with respect. He brought an unquenchable curiosity to everything and everyone. A life well-lived. I miss him already.”
John Tighe, chief executive officer of Tailored Brands, said: “Mr. Spiegel was a wonderful man. A dedicated father, grandfather and innovator who took a small tie company and turned Randa into a powerhouse. The industry will miss his kind eyes and quick wit, but his legacy will live on through his family.”
“As a young retail executive, Herb took me under his wing at a critical point in life and career,” said Sam Archibald, chief merchandising officer of Fanatics Commerce. “He became both a mentor and a friend, giving his time and guidance generously. He was kind, endlessly curious, and full of stories an entrepreneur in the truest sense. His life’s tapestry reflected a unique business, American and Jewish journey that fascinated and inspired me. He built genuine relationships in his effortless style. He left a lasting imprint on me, and I will always be grateful for what I learned from him.”
Douglas Raicek, executive vice president and a principal of Peerless Clothing, said “I had the pleasure of meeting Herb early in my career and was immediately struck by his palpable warmth and the twinkle in his eye. His story felt both familiar and all too rare — the steady leader who, over a lifetime, helps build a humble family business into a juggernaut. That he managed to do so while being known for his kindness makes his story all the more incredible. Herb leaves behind a tremendous legacy and profound mark on our industry.”
In addition to his son Jeffrey, chairman and CEO of Randa, Herbert Spiegel is survived by his wife, two other children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Due to privacy concerns, the family declined to provide names for the survivors.
