David Rappaport

David Rappaport (June 6, 1914 – April 5, 2010) was an American fashion manufacturer, designer and painter. Early life David Rappaport was born in Harlem as the son of Russian-born Jewish clothing cutter, Joseph Rappaport, and his wife Sophie. Growing up on the Lower East Side, his family struggled to survive, especially during the strike of Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. His father tried to supplement earnings as a door-to-door salesman and was accompanied by his son. Though he aspired to become a medical doctor, David Rappaport began to work to support his younger siblings. At age seventeen, he was hired by a friend of the family at a necktie manufacturing company. He was later hired as a packer of neckwear collections in the Midwestern sales division. At night, he attended the Fashion Institute of Technology high school of textile design.