Jenni Kayne launched her line in 2003, when she was just nineteen. She quickly established her signature look: a refined, subtle interpretation of classic American sportswear that draws on her California upbringing and uncomplicated design sensibility. “Super-chic, easy to wear clothes,” she says of her designs. “That’s what I do. Nothing tricky, nothing precious, just good clothes that work for you.” Kayne’s interest in fashion was evident from an early age: When she was eight, she announced that she wanted to be a designer. After attending the Otis College of Art and Design for two semesters, she became a buyer for a Santa Monica boutique at the age of eighteen. In this position, she traveled to Europe and gained firsthand knowledge of everything from artisanal handicrafts to production techniques. This experience helped her to launch her own line at Los Angeles fashion week just a year later. She began showing at New York fashion week in 2005, and was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) three years later. In 2007, Kayne opened her first shop in West Hollywood. Her clothes and accessories are also available in specialty boutiques across the United States and Europe. “I think what sets the collection apart is that we offer something sophisticated and classic at a price point that’s accessible to a lot of women,” Kayne says. “My customer loves fashion, but she wants clothes that she’ll go back to again and again. And that’s what I want to give her.”
