Richard Chai Named Creative Director at Filson

Along with a smattering other high-profile names, Richard Chai was part of the initial wave of young designers to galvanize the New York fashion scene in the mid-aughts. Since his debut, he's fostered a youthful, streetwise viewpoint that has attracted a crop of anti-'it' girls who like to look stylish but not styled. He's found success with his menswear line as well, which was launched in 2008. Now, Chai has been drafted to help lead the outdoorsy lifestyle brand Filson. The Seattle-based heritage label, which has been focused on outfitting nature-loving types who enjoy fishing, hunting, and the like, found a perfect match in Chai's unfussy, masculine aesthetic. A small glimpse of his work for Filson will be previewed during his runway show at New York Fashion Week.