Christy Lynn Lee knows a thing or two about building something beautiful from the ground up. Inspired by her Korean-American upbringing, her parents’ entrepreneurial spirit, and more than a decade spent working for acclaimed designers in New York, Christy launched her namesake label in 2020 with a vision for romantic, timeless pieces designed to move effortlessly through every part of a woman’s life. Since then, the brand has grown into a global favorite carried by more than 100 retailers worldwide—all while staying rooted in thoughtful craftsmanship and emotional storytelling.
As we continue to spotlight AAPI founders this month, we caught up with Christy to talk about entrepreneurship, heritage, building a lasting fashion brand, and why the most meaningful inspiration often comes from the quietest moments.
Before starting your own label, you spent more than a decade working for acclaimed designers in New York. What lessons from those years still shape the way you run your business today?
Working in New York taught me that fashion is equal parts creativity and discipline. I learned the importance of craftsmanship and fit, but also how much resilience and adaptability it takes to build a lasting brand. Working for designers who balance artistry with the realities of production, sales, and growth gave me a deeper appreciation for every part of the process. Today, I still approach the brand with that mindset—staying detail-oriented while always thinking about the bigger picture and the woman we are designing for.
What was the moment when you knew you needed to start your own business?
It happened very organically! I designed my own wedding dress and the entire weekend wardrobe, and the response from friends and the women around me made me realize there was space for something that felt romantic, modern, and deeply personal. At the same time, I felt a strong desire to create pieces that reflected my own perspective and heritage. What started from my living room with a small collection slowly became the beginning of the brand.
Your parents immigrated from South Korea and built small businesses from the ground up. How did watching their journey influence your own relationship with ambition and entrepreneurship?
Watching my parents build their business from nothing shaped me deeply. Some of my earliest memories are tied to being at the store with my family—helping organize shelves, wrapping gifts during the holidays, and watching firsthand the care and perseverance it took to build something from the ground up.
It taught me early on that success is built through consistency, resilience, and continuing forward even during uncertain moments. I think that mindset gave me the courage to start my own brand from my living room and grow it step by step.
As a Korean-American founder in fashion, what conversations or perspectives do you hope to bring to the industry?
Korean culture holds such a deep sense of emotion, resilience, nostalgia, and quiet strength, and growing up with that foundation from my parents has always stayed with me creatively. In such a fast-moving industry where trends constantly change, I’m always searching for ways to create a deeper emotional connection and conversations with women through the brand.