Designer: Cynthia Rowley
by Bart Boehlert
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| "For me, to see my quarterly statement is as satisfying as seeing a beautifully constructed garment." |
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Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley is a girl on the go. She runs around her showroom on black patent leather wedgies. "I have a little too much energy," she says, perched temporarily on a thin chair. "If I didn't have this business to funnel it into, I'd be in a straight jacket."
Fortunately, Rowley does have her own thriving designer clothing business. Arriving in New York City from Illinois with a couple of thousand dollars on New Year's Day in 1983, she started sewing clothes in her apartment downtown. Since then, her solely owned company, which produces classic, lady like, Jackie 0 dresses, has grown to see sales of over $12 million. The 36-year-old has a large, impressive showroom in a building with neighbors like Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan. Her chic store is in Soho and there are plans for other stores. Meanwhile, she zips back and forth between a New York City apartment and a weekend house in Pennsylvania.
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| "I have a little too much energy...if I didn't have this business I'd be in a straight jacket." |
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© Copyright 1995 Urban Desires
Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley is a girl on the go. She runs around her showroom on black patent leather wedgies. "I have a little too much energy," she says, perched temporarily on a thin chair. "If I didn't have this business to funnel it into, I'd be in a straight jacket." 
