This week on She’s Smart, I’m joined by Irene Chen, co-founder of the California-based accessories brand Parker Thatch. Irene and I share roots in the same little pocket of Northern California, and we instantly connected over that shared sense of home.
In this episode, Irene shares how she and her husband built Parker Thatch from the ground up — starting with a single roll of canvas and a sewing machine in a dry cleaner — and how a few words of encouragement from handbag icon Kate Spade helped shape the brand’s future.
We talk about creativity, entrepreneurship, resilience, and how to find joy (and calm) in the process of building something meaningful. Irene’s story is full of heart and inspiration — you’ll finish this episode wanting to create something of your own.
