Emil J. DeJohn, a Philadelphia-based fashion designer who later had a teaching career at Moore College of Art & Design, Drexel University and The Art Institute of Philadelphia, died June 24 in Ambler, Pa. He was 88.
DeJohn died of a heart attack at his daughter’s home, according to Leisa DeJohn Nappi, his daughter.
Born Dec. 20, 1937, in Philadelphia, DeJohn attended John Bartram High School and later earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art (which later became the University of the Arts). He received the prestigious “Critics Senior Design citation” at the end of his senior year.
DeJohn got his start in the industry working as a fashion illustrator at The Philadelphia Bulletin, where his work accompanied the fashion columns.
DeJohn commuted to New York for 40 years from his home in Wyncote, Pa. to Penn Station in New York City for his various roles, which included designing men’s sportswear for Bill Blass, women’s and men’s collections for Jones New York, childrenswear for OshKosh, and private label collections for Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Macy’s. He also designed Miss Bergdorf sportswear, gowns and dresses for Bergdorf Goodman.
De John also dressed such celebrities as Barbra Streisand and Julie and Tricia Nixon.
In addition to fashion design, teaching became a passion of his. DeJohn was chairman of fashion design at Moore College of Art and Design, director of the fashion design department at Drexel University, and professor of fashion design at The Art Institute of Philadelphia.
DeJohn was honored in 2011 with the Charlie Scott Award for Excellence as part of the seventh annual Philadelphia Fashion Week, which was reported by WWD. The black-tie affair was held in historic Headhouse Square.
“I decided it was time to give back,” DeJohn told WWD in 2011 about his teaching career. “I knew I would not have the luxury of travel but that I would become a mentor,” he said.
Nappi said Thursday, “He was very mild-mannered. He was a conservative dresser and was amazing with his students. He got them jobs in London, Paris, with Alexander McQueen, Oscar de la Renta, and Urban Outfitters,” among other places. “He wanted to make a difference for people who wanted to be like him but didn’t have the contacts or the money. It was so important to him. He wanted to help kids,” she said. She said schools such as Syracuse University would fly him up to do the senior critiques, and he would lecture there, as well as at Arcadia University and University of Delaware.
DeJohn was selected to design the “Just Say No” (anti-drug initiative) children’s sportswear collection for Nancy Reagan which is now housed and preserved in the Smithsonian. He competed with 42 designers for the honor.
During his career, DeJohn was awarded the David Yurman “Humanitarian Angel” award at a Neiman Marcus luncheon, Crystal Award of Excellence from City of Philadelphia and Teacher of the Year from The Art Institute in 2017.
Stan Herman said Friday, “He had a very nice career. It was the beginning of the time when designers were being noticed. Emil was very highly thought of. He caught the wind of fashion very well. He had the sweetest disposition.”
Among DeJohn’s hobbies were flower arranging, collecting anything blue and white, gardening, and decorating.
A viewing was held on Thursday morning at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Ambler, Pa., followed by a funeral Mass.
In addition to his daughter Leisa DeJohn Nappi, DeJohn is survived by his wife, Bette Anne, son Christian DeJohn and his wife, Lindsay, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Paul Nappi.
