Richard Chai - Biography
Fashion designer Richard Chai, a New York native, began his career at an
early age with a prestigious internship at Geoffrey Beene as an
undergraduate at Parsons School of Design. Upon graduation from Parsons,
Chai continued his studies at the Lissa School in Paris, during which time
he also worked as a sketcher at Lanvin.
Returning to New York one year later, Chai immediately embarked on his
practical experience as an assistant designer at Armani Exchange. He then
joined Donna Karan as a designer for the DKNY and D collections. From 1998
to 2001, Chai was the Design Director for the Marc Jacobs men's and women's
collections and the launch of the Marc by Marc Jacobs men's line.
In September 2001, Chai was appointed Creative Design Director of all TSE
brands, including men's, women's and TSE Say, marking the first time in the
company's history that a single person oversaw all brands. Through his
experiences at some of the world's most influential fashion houses, Chai
developed a keen eye for detail, a reverence for architectural design
elements, and a strong belief in the importance and value of the
construction of clothes.
In 2004, after two years at TSE, Richard Chai established his own company
and eponymous label. During New York Fashion Week in September 2004, Chai
launched his Spring 2005 women's wear collection in a formal runway
presentation. His well-received debut was a study in understated yet
sophisticated elegance and established his aesthetic sensibility and
penchant for clean lines and classic craftsmanship.
In September 2009, the designer debuted a new contemporary-priced women’s
collection called Richard Chai – LOVE for Spring 2010. Considered the female
counterpart to his menswear label, LOVE parallels his men’s line both in its
accessible price point and in its aesthetic of uniform-inspired classics
refined with a modern, downtown sensibility. Richard went on to launch his
eponymous menswear collection, in 2008 for 2009, with a presentation during
Paris Fashion Week. As with his womenswear, Chai takes an architectural
approach with his menswear. Design signatures such as arced seams,
intriguing fabric treatments and eclectic colour palettes lend a distinctly
modern flair while keeping in tune with the classic heritage of old world
tailoring and craftsmanship.
In June 2010, Richard Chai was named Swarovski Menswear Designer of the Year
at the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards.
Awards / Milestones
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Winner of the 2005 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award
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Inducted as a CFDA member in 2007
Selected as a 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards finalist for
womenswear
Named one of six finalists in GQ’s s third annual “Best New Men’s
Designers in America”
Winner of the 2010 Swarovski Menswear Designer of the Year at the CFDA
Fashion Awards
http://www.richardchailove.com/profile