Ronen Chen
Tel Aviv, Israel
Ronen Chen was born in 1965 in Ramat Gan, a city east of Tel Aviv.
After graduating from high school and going through army service at a military prison, Ronen Chen entered the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design 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 boutiques. 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 in collaboration with a franchisee. 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 in partnership with Anne O Dowd. Since 2010 he cooperates with Nordstrom on supplying his fashions to the United States.
As of August 2012, Ronen Chen had 18 brand stores in Israel and 2 in London with UK partner Anne O Dowd. His fashions were also exported to the United States, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium. His brand was presented with such models as Yael Goldman and Israeli model and actress Yana Goor. Yael Goldman's work with Ronen Chen was featured on FashionTV in 2011–2013.
Chen and his girlfriend, a TV producer, share parenting responsibilities for their two daughters. He also designs dresses for the daughters.