In her article, “Why We Can’t Stop Talking About Khaite,” Diana Pearl reveals the woman behind the New York luxury brand Khaite and what is all the buzz is about around the label. Catherine Holstein, the creator, and founder of Khaite opened her first store in New York in 2016 and a second in Seoul. She has won the CFDA womenswear Designer of the Year Award for the second year in a row.  

Pearl’s report dives into the DNA of the brand, who is wearing it and why it deserves attention. Khaite offers women wardrobe staples of denim, accessories, and knits as a one stop destination. Among of the celebrities and elite who have been seen wearing the brand are Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Kaite Holmes.  

While the report offers praise for Holstein’s accomplishments, Pearl addresses some of her downfalls. Pulling from Vanessa’s Freidman’s review of her FW24 collection, expresses her lack of originality. In the New York Times, Friedman writes, “But if Ms. Holstein is really going to be a leader of American fashion, she needs to develop a signature. She needs a point of view about women in the world and where they are going that is singular and recognizable.” 

Despite the criticism, Holstien’s is determined to grow the brand further. This year, the brand will open up another New York location on Madison Avenue with a focus on bags, their fastest-growing category.  

Pearl has accurately done her research. From the prices of her pieces to describing the venue of her Fall/Winter venue. She backups up her statement on how Holstein has managed to grow the label by selling her stake into the investment firm Stripes.  

In her article, “Why We Can’t Stop Talking About Khaite,” Diana Pearl reveals the woman behind the New York luxury brand and why it deserves our attention. Founded by creative director, Catherine Holstein, the first New York store opened in 2016 and a second in Seoul in 2023. Holstein has won the CFDA womenswear Designer of the Year Award for the second year in a row.  

Emulating the New York “cool girl,” Khaite offers women wardrobe staples of denim, accessories, and knits as a one stop destination. The brand has earned admiration from celebrities including Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Kaite Holmes who have all been spotted wearing Khaite’s pieces.  

Pearl has accurately done her research. From her clothing prices to describing the venue of her Fall/Winter 24 show, she sprinkles facts to her readers about the brand. She backups up her statement on how Holstein has managed to grow the label by selling her stake into the investment firm Stripes. 

The article praises Holstein’s accomplishments and addresses some of the criticism she received. Pearl quotes Julie Gilhart, chief development officer of Tomorrow Ltd. “When you have a good hand at knits, you have a good hand at denim, and she’s able to extract ideas from everything she’s seen and put them into her own thing.”  

Pearl mentioned Vanessa’s Freidman’s review of her Fall/Winter 24 collection, expressing her lack of originality. In the original New York Times, Friedman writes, “But if Ms. Holstein is really going to be a leader of American fashion, she needs to develop a signature. She needs a point of view about women in the world and where they are going that is singular and recognizable.” 

Holstien channels the criticism as an opportunity to learn and is determined to grow the brand further. This year, the brand will open another New York location on Madison Avenue with a focus on bags, their fastest-growing category.  

Khaite has made a significant mark on the luxury category and has the potential to become a global phenomenon. One thing Holstein is proud of is her roots. “I would never leave New York to show,” she said. “This is a New York brand; we’re intrinsically New York. I love being a part of New York Fashion Week.” 

Works Cited: 

Pearl, Diana. “Why We Can’t Stop Talking about Khaite” Businessoffashion.com, 14 February 2024. https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/luxury/why-we-cant-stop-talking-about-khaite/ 

Friedman, Vanessa. “Is This the Future of New York Fashion?” NYtimes.com, 11 February 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/11/style/khaite-new-york-fashion-week.html