![Ronen Chen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Ronen_Chen.jpg)
Ronen Chen ( he, רונן חן; born in 1965) is an Israeli fashion designer. According to
Xnet
Xnet (former eXgae) is a non-profit activist platform that develops and promotes alternative models for cultural dissemination and royalty management and work in different fields related to digital rights, networked democracy and freedom of expr ...
, he is the most widely distributed
and internationally known
Israeli fashion designer.
Biography
Ronen Chen was born in 1965 in
Ramat Gan
Ramat Gan ( he, רָמַת גַּן or , ) is a city in the Tel Aviv District of Israel, located east of the municipality of Tel Aviv and part of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. It is home to one of the world's major diamond exchanges, and many ...
, a city east of
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...
.
After graduating from high school and going through army service at a military prison,
Ronen Chen entered the
Shenkar College of Engineering and Design
Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art (commonly abbreviated as Shenkar) is a public college in Ramat Gan, Israel. Shenkar serves the Israeli industry by providing academic qualification and R&D services for modern industries.
Shenkar i ...
in 1986.
Though he was previously inclined to become an architect, he opted to choose fashion design since the architecture school was a longer ride from his home.
Later he realized that he actually enjoys fashion and prefers it to architecture.
By his third year in college, Chen was selling belts and shoes to Tel Aviv
boutique
A boutique () is a small shop that deals in fashionable clothing or accessories. The word is French for "shop", which derives ultimately from the Ancient Greek ἀποθήκη (''apothēkē'') "storehouse".
The term ''boutique'' and also ''d ...
s. During his fourth year, he was already making money by creating designer garments at affordable prices.
In 1990, right after graduation, he was hired by Gideon Oberson.
In 1993, he founded his own "Ronen Chen" fashion brand,
and opened his first small store and studio on the trendy
Sheinkin Street in Tel Aviv.
In 1995, three more stores were opened in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
in collaboration with a
franchisee
Franchising is based on a marketing concept which can be adopted by an organization as a strategy for business expansion. Where implemented, a franchisor licenses some or all of its know-how, procedures, intellectual property, use of its busine ...
. Two years after, in 1997, these shops were closed following Chen's decision to focus on developing his business in Israel.
He considers that the decision to open London stores at that time was reckless and naive, since his business wasn't prepared for that.
In the following years Chen developed a network of fashion stores in Israel and increased his international sales. In 2009, after 12 years since moving back to Israel, a new Ronen Chen store was opened in London's
Portman Estate
The Portman Estate, covering 110 acres of Marylebone in London’s West End, was founded in 1532 when the land was first leased to Sir William Portman.
The Portman Estate also has two rural estates in Buckinghamshire and Herefordshire. In addi ...
. Since 2010 he cooperates with
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. () is an American luxury department store chain headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin in 1901. The original Wallin & Nordstrom store operated exclusively as a shoe store, and ...
on supplying his fashions to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.
As of August 2012, Ronen Chen had 18 brand stores in Israel and 2 in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
.
His fashions were also exported to the United States, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium.
His brand was presented with models such as
Yael Goldman
Yael Goldman-Pfeffer ( he, יעל גולדמן; born 24 September 1978) is an Israeli television host, actress, and model.
Early life
Yael Goldman was born in Kiryat Ono, Israel. Both her parents Dan Goldman and Idit ( Fishler) are of Ashkenazi J ...
and Israeli model and actress
Yana Goor ( he,
יאנה גור).
Yael Goldman's work with Ronen Chen was featured on
FashionTV
FashionTV is an international fashion and lifestyle broadcasting television channel. Founded in France in 1997, by its Polish-born president Michel Adam Lisowski, FashionTV is a widely distributed satellite channels in the world with 31 satellit ...
in 2011–2013.
Search results for "Ronen Chen"
– ''FashionTV
FashionTV is an international fashion and lifestyle broadcasting television channel. Founded in France in 1997, by its Polish-born president Michel Adam Lisowski, FashionTV is a widely distributed satellite channels in the world with 31 satellit ...
''.
Chen and his girlfriend, a TV producer, share parenting responsibilities for their two daughters. He also designs dresses for the daughters.
Style of work
Ronen Chen was never very interested in designing clothing for men. His clients are women of all ages and constitutions.
Ronen Chen's clothes are characterized by flattering fit and comfort, minimalism, universality, timelessness, leaning to monochrome and neutral colors, versatility in use, geometrical patterns and shapes.
See also
*Israeli fashion
Israeli fashion refers to fashion design and modeling in Israel.
Israel has become an international center of fashion and design.
References
External links
About Ronen Chen
at RonenChen.com.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Ronan
1965 births
Living people
Israeli Jews
Israeli fashion designers
Jewish fashion designers