Nancye Radmin
Nancye Radmin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nancye Jo Bullard 4 August 1938 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | 8 December 2020 (aged 82) Lakeland, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of The Forgotten Woman retail chain |
Nancye Radmin (August 4, 1938 – December 8, 2020), originally named Nancye Jo Bullard, was an American entrepreneur who established The Forgotten Woman, a nationwide retail chain dedicated to plus-size designer fashion.
Early life
Radmin was born in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up in Cochran, Georgia. She was the daughter of Joe Dykes Bullard Jr. and Jane Johnson Bullard, who operated a farm cultivating peanuts, pecans, and cotton. Her mother worked as a registered nurse. Radmin pursued studies at Middle Georgia College but did not complete her degree.
Career
In the 1960s, after relocating to New York City and gaining experience as a secretary, Radmin opened The Forgotten Woman boutique on the Upper East Side in 1977. This store specialized in upscale designer clothing tailored for plus-size women, offering items such as lingerie, accessories, jewelry, and footwear. Defying the prevailing belief that luxury fashion was not sought after by larger women, she effectively served a neglected segment of the market.
By 1991, The Forgotten Woman had grown to encompass 25 outlets nationwide, with locations in important areas including suburban Detroit, West Palm Beach, and Rodeo Drive. The brand attracted notable patrons, among them celebrities like Oprah Winfrey. In 1990, Savvy magazine listed it among the top 60 women-owned enterprises in the United States.
Radmin resigned from her role as president in 1991 and exited the company entirely by 1993. Although it once thrived, The Forgotten Woman stores ceased operations by 1998. Furthermore, Radmin partnered with Vogue Patterns to create a collection of plus-size sewing patterns.
Personal life
Originally raised in the Southern Baptist faith, Nancye Jo Bullard converted to Judaism following her marriage to Mack Radmin, a meat wholesaler, in 1968. The couple had two sons named Brett and William. After being widowed in 2006, she died in 2020 at the age of 82 in Lakeland, Florida.