Edward “Eddie” Haddad, philanthropist founder of Haddad Brands, died Dec. 18 in New York City, due to natural causes. He was 83.
“My Dad was my best friend and also my boss,” said Sam Haddad, principal of the family-owned Haddad Brands. “We are going to miss him tremendously, but we will work hard to build upon his legacy.”
Affectionately known as “Uncle Eddie” by his employees, friends and family, Edward Haddad grew up in Brooklyn, where his family still resides. Under his stewardship over the past 50 years, Haddad Brands flourished into a global player in kid’s apparel and adult accessories. Haddad spearheaded opening offices around the world and established joint ventures and international distribution partners.
“More than anything that he mastered in the business world, Eddie’s legacy will be how he masterfully united the family through to the fourth generation of Haddad’s, along with his extended family of all who worked for him,” Sam noted.
Haddad considered his employees part of his extended family and deeply cared for each. Over the years he even paid people to quit smoking. At times he closed his distribution center to retailer shipments to prioritize loading trucks of kids apparel to send to those in need after disasters such as Hurricane Sandy.
“He was a man of the people,” said Sam, who said his father had a very hands-on management style and was a philanthropist, focusing his giving on health and education, in addition to feeding and clothing those in need.
“He was friends with everybody,” Sam said. “He took care of everybody in the company like they were his own family, no matter what position they held. He was wise beyond his years, but he was also a very humble and private person.”
Haddad Brands is the exclusive global licensee for Nike, Jordan, Converse, Hurley, Levi’s, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Huggies childrenswear. In addition, this year the company signed licensing agreements with Lacoste and formed a partnership with Abercrombie & Fitch Co. to expand the global reach of the abercrombie kids brand. Haddad is engaged in the design, sourcing, production, sales and marketing of childrenswear, distributes to more than 100 countries, and operates sales and sourcing offices in 22 locations including New York, Paris, Shanghai, London, Montreal, Bangkok, Egypt, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Hilversum, Netherlands.
In addition to his son Sam, Edward Haddad is survived by his wife, Lydia; his daughter Norma; eight grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A funeral was held Dec. 19.
