Marty Staff

began his professional career in 1973 at Bloomingdale’s as an assistant buyer of men’s wear. Over the next seven years, in a variety of elevated roles, he grew the young mens’ and boys’ department into a $25 million business and launched the women’s designer jeans business at the store. In 1980, he joined Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. as vice president of sales, growing the business over his four-year tenure from $57 million to $350 million. In 1984, the company appointed him vice president of marketing, licensing and retail, where he supervised all domestic licensing; managed full-price and outlet retail stores, and oversaw corporate marketing. He joined Calvin Klein in 1989 as senior vice president of retail development and licensing and in 1994 took over the position of president and chief operating officer of the Calvin Klein men’s wear division of GFT USA Corp., where he was responsible for management and operations of the $70 million clothing, furnishings and sportswear business. In 1998, Staff joined Hugo Boss as president and chief executive officer and during his five years there, grew annual sales in the U.S. from $77 million to $200 million. In March 2004, Staff led the J.W. Childs acquisition of JA Apparel Corp., owner of the Joseph Abboud trademark, and was named CEO. In January 2011, Staff joined American Apparel as chief business development officer, supervising retail, wholesale, online and licensed businesses. In May 2012, he established the consulting firm of Marty Staff Associates LLP, and in December of 2015, he joined BCBG Max Azria as president and CEO, where he guided the company through a Chapter 11, restructuring and sale to Centric Holdings LLC. 

Despite his storied fashion industry career, Staff was perhaps most at home at his farm in Pennsylvania, which he described as having “lush horse pastures and cows, and fields of corn, wheat and soy that are planted, maintained and harvested by a local farmer. His greatest pleasure was to spend quiet time at the farm with his wife, Robin who is a dance producer in New York City and Lehigh Valley. Together, they raise dogs and assist the Pennsylvania community in the development of local farmers markets, the preservation of land and the expansion of the arts in Bucks County. A Christmas baby, Marty was a passionate fisherman, lover of all genres of music, an avid reader and had a license to fly small aircraft. He kept way ahead of all the latest technology, inspired by what it can do and the endless possibilities.

Marty Staff, a larger-than-life figure who worked for some of the fashion industry’s biggest names during his 30-year-plus career, died at the age of 70 from terminal brain cancer with his wife, family and friends by his side at his farm in Bucks County, PA, on May 11, 2021. 

Marty is survived by Robin, his wife of 46 years, his mother-in-law, Bobbie Joseph, his sister and brother-in-laws, Diane (Joseph) and David Schonberger, Nanci (Joseph) and Paul Fortgang, five nieces (Erica, Sharon, Annie) and nephews (Scott, Jacob), two great nieces (Mia, Sophie), four Anguillan rescues (Toto, Frangipani, Coconut and Lemon) and his golden retriever Alexander Hamilton, his cherished ‘Farm Family,’ and numerous members of the Staff/Smith family. His visionary spirit changed the lives of his friends, family members and peers from NYC to PA to LA, Anguilla and across the pond to Germany, Italy and London.