As the founder and creator of one of the most recognizable clothing brands in contemporary women’s fashion, Julie Chaiken has developed a fiercely loyal client base with her well-fitted and form-conscious collections.
Chaiken brings nearly two decades of experience to the fashion industry, both as a highly regarded designer and a respected business owner. Well known for her business acumen, Chaiken has played a lead role in all aspects of her company, from design and manufacturing to finance, marketing and sales.
Ultimately, Chaiken believes her responsibility as creative director of Chaiken and Capone is to design a collection with pieces that make a woman look and feel her best. “My clothes have always been about creating the perfect fit,” said Chaiken. “It begins with respecting a woman’s curves and understanding that our figures are not all the same.” Acting with this sentiment, Chaiken works with multiple fit models to see how her pieces look on different body types. In selecting fabrics for the collections, her choices are based on touch, “The fabrics I use are rich, soft, and luxurious, but they’re also wearable and have to fit the life my customers are living — whether they’re heading into the office or picking up their kids from school — our fabrics must be versatile to fit their lifestyles.”
In addition to her design career, Chaiken is actively involved in supporting organizations and causes that promote the rights of women and children. She currently serves on the boards of the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Kohn Foundation, the Chaiken Family Foundation, and she was a founding board member of the Art Council, now called Artadia. She is also a member of REBOOT, a network of thought-leaders and tastemakers.
Chaiken received her B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.B.A. in Corporate Finance from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Julie has two children and resides in Northern California.