Biography:

 

The design duo known as RICHARD EDWARDS is the product and creative fusion of two talents who have unified to establish a recognizable and serious fashion standard set to modernize both men’s and women’s wear.

Born in Sundsvall, Sweden in 1962, Richard Bengtsson represents the European element and outside perspective of the American male aesthetic, while Edward Pavlick, a New Jersey native born in 1966, lends his own insider’s interpretation of the modern, American male to this unity. Starting from equally separate points of departure, Richard’s and Edward’s professional training share only the philosophy of creative design. Edward studied Industrial Design at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and, from there, he began professionally designing pharmaceutical and biological research equipment for a wide range of companies. On the fashion front, Richard studied fashion design in Stockholm at the Beckmans School of Design. Immediately following graduation, Richard designed his own line of women's wear before moving on to create new menswear concepts for European retailers. In 1989, Richard moved to New York City to be a freelance menswear designer for several, expansive sportswear companies.

With their first collaborative design effort, Richard and Edward launched a Holiday Shirt Line in 1993. By the end of 1994, a collective concept of their own line was ready to be shown. In the company of the industry’s top menswear designers, Richard Edwards organized their first runway presentation for the 1995-1996 Fall/Winter Season. Since the Spring / Summer
1999 season, Richard Edwards has been presenting each collection during the men’s fashion week in Milan and the Fall/Winter 2001-2002 Paris showseas on marks the official launch of the Richard Edwards women’s collection.

Since their first men’s collection, the designer label RICHARD EDWARDS has been encouraged by the press, promoted by major retailers and supported by the industry both nationally and internationally. After their second runway presentation, Richard Edwards was awarded the prestigious CFDA Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent in Menswear. Since that time, the designers have pursued aggressively their worldwide presence and distribution which has been reinforced by representation with public relations firm, Karla Otto Srl. in Milan and Paris, and WAG, Inc. out of Tokyo.

When asked, the designers value their status as a veritable design team. Despite their separate backgrounds, they attribute the success of their intense company to the similarities of their design philosophies and individual aesthetics. Their attention to detail and pursuit of sophistication and realism in design cements the creativity and strength
of each collection and collections to come.