a Woman to watch

Kendra Scott celebrates International Women's Day with new watch collection and philanthropic foundation

Courtesy of Kendra Scott

Today is International Women's Day, and jewelry icon and philanthropist Kendra Scott is celebrating as Kendra Scott does best — launching an all-new collection and announcing a new charitable foundation.

A component of the Austin Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3), the mission of the Kendra Scott Foundation is to empower women and youth in the areas of health and wellness, education, and entrepreneurship. According to a release, Kendra Scott started her brand with the intention of doing good first and selling jewelry second, a philanthropic mentality that has been embedded into every facet of the company. The Foundation will allow Kendra Scott to do even more good and serve as an overarching platform to deepen the brand’s investment in changing the lives of women and youth.

Scott has proudly donated more than $50 million to local, national, and international causes since 2010. Centering around the pillars of wellness, education, and entrepreneurship, Scott's philanthropic efforts include a commitment to breast cancer research through Yellow for Pink by Kendra Scott; a creative arts program for pediatric hospitals called Kendra Cares; support for educators and underserved students; and growing the next generation of women leaders through the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.

“My intention when I started this business was always to do good first and sell jewelry second, and the launch of the Kendra Scott Foundation will allow us to continue to do just that for decades to come,” said Kendra Scott, Founder, Designer, and Executive Chairwoman of the brand via release. “I have always strived to use my talents to improve the lives of others, especially women who need to be connected to sources that will help them flourish. This is why the Kendra Scott Foundation was created and why we are so driven and inspired to expand our impact and reach even more women and youth each and every day.”

Also launching on March 8, the brand released a new collection of watches and watch bands to add to their 2022 timepiece collection. New additions include the Iridescent Stainless-Steel band, available in the Alex Link Watch Band, featuring subtle spring hues; a refresh of the best-selling Dira watch with an Iridescent Sunray face and featuring a diamond embedded within Kendra Scott’s iconic medallion logo; and the Filigree Leather Watch Band. Designed exclusively for Apple Watch®, the latter is crafted with genuine Italian leather in luxurious shades and features the brand's signature logo as a pattern on the band.

The new collection of watches and watch bands range from $138-$288, and are available at KendraScott.com and in retail stores nationwide.

Courtesy of Kendra Scott

The Alex Gold Tone stainless steel 35m watch now comes in a new color, Light Iridescent.

VAULT VIBES

Houston fashion star Chloe Dao marks 25 years with epic clean-out sale

Photo courtesy of Chloe Dao

From January 24- 31 Chloe Dao will open her personal design archives to mark 25 years with a rare boutique vault sale.

For Houston fashion devotees, this is the kind of news that prompts a calendar alert and a group chat with the besties. Chloe Dao is celebrating 25 years in fashion by doing something she has never done before: opening the vault.

From January 24 through January 31, the Chloe Dao boutique will host a 25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Vault Event, releasing pieces from Dao’s personal design archives alongside curated boutique items that have been held back for years. Once they are gone, they are gone for good.

“This is not a typical sale; this is an anniversary moment,” Dao says. “It’s an intentional release, a moment of reflection and gratitude, and a way to make space for what’s next. Once these pieces are gone, they’re truly gone."

For the first time ever, shoppers will be able to snag select designs from past collections and limited production runs, and Dao has confirmed she will be parting with some of her couture designs. Shoppers can expect more than 300 items, with more than half of the boutique included in the sale event.

Chloe Dao design Select runway couture and past collection pieces headline Chloe Dao’s 25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Event.Photo courtesy of Chloe Dao

Everything in the anniversary sale will be discounted 65 percent or more. Fan favorites, including the Houston T-shirt and Aya scarf, will be priced at $15 to $20, down from $42 to $68. None of the released pieces will be reproduced or restocked.

There is also a very personal moment behind this big event. Dao shared that she is planning for the future, including her eventual retirement in about 5 years, making this the right time for a shift.

“It is bittersweet, and I’m still torn about letting go of some of my archive pieces. But a close friend stopped by the boutique this past Saturday and reminded me that I can always create more. That really stayed with me. I’ve missed designing for my store, and this sale feels like a reset — a chance to return to what I love most: designing eveningwear," Dao tells CultureMap. "The past six years, especially post-COVID, were very much about survival mode. Now, if I’m going to truly survive and thrive in today’s retail landscape, my focus is shifting back to my own line and less on curation.”

Following her Project Runway Season Two win and decades of success, Dao says the milestone is also about gratitude for the city that supported her from the start.

“Think of it as an archive release and a chance to own a piece of my history as I celebrate 25 years in fashion. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I’m so excited to share this moment, and this milestone, with you."

25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Vault Event, January 24 - January 31, Chloe Dao Boutique, 600 N Shepherd Dr #115, in M-K-T Heights.

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