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I’m the founder of technical fashion brand, Charli Cohen (which also happens to be my name). I’m 26 and live in Shoreditch with my boyfriend and my puppy – both of whom also work for CC. I’m first and foremost a fashion designer but also a writer, a personal trainer and a singer. And by default, running a business, tons of other things (think accountant, administrator, fixer, coffee maker)…

You were one of our biggest inspirations to us when starting our own business. We know that it’s no mean feat, what initially made you take the leap? 

Weirdly, I never considered it a leap – I grew up in a family of business owners and it never once crossed my mind to do anything else. I started my first business aged 15 – a t-shirt label. Then through uni I had two smaller ventures – one providing online personal training (before it was as big a thing as it is now!) and one providing online marketing services to small businesses. I couldn’t wait to finish uni and start Charli Cohen – but it was never going to be anything other than a full time job so I knew I had to hold off until I graduated!

A photo posted by CHARLI COHEN™ (@charlicohen) on Apr 21, 2016 at 1:39pm PDT

Your activewear style isn’t what you’d typically see on the shelves, tell us a little bit about that.

I saw a space for performance-wear that was truly transitional. More than just cool looking leggings, I want to design pieces that people wouldn’t necessarily even guess are technical and to use beautiful, tactile fabrics and finishes. Now the business is at a point where we can expand the product range a bit, I’m going to be pushing the ready-to-wear side a lot further – very excited to show you the next season!

Who has inspired your style the most?

I have a long-time obsession with Japanese street style.

Be flexible, have faith and be really great at contingency planning – even when it all looks like it’s going to go tits up, you’ll somehow find a last minute solution.

Other than fashion design, what do you do in your spare time?

Not that I get enough time for them, but music, reading and writing are my other big loves.

What’s your favourite thing about living in London?

It’s a huge melting pot of different cultures, different historical periods and young creatives working hard to make it. It’s a very special city.

Are you a pyjama or party girl?

100% pyjama.

Blonde!

What made you change it? 

I was desperate for a change but knew from a terrible teenage mistake that darker hair doesn’t suit me. I’d been set on pink for about a year but it took me a while to work up the courage. Obviously now I can’t ever imagine going back…

Your CC Collection has taken the fitness scene by storm. What are your goals for 2016? 

There are some exciting projects in the works but they’re under wraps for now… Let’s just say that our name will be on a certain important schedule, you will be able to wear head to *toe* CC one day soon and you may be seeing us in a few more of your favourite stores this year. Oh and keep an eye on our Instagram as we’ll be opening a pop-up store very soon!

If you could change one thing about your path to today’s success, what would it be? 

Worry less – it doesn’t change anything. Still working on that one…

Thanks for joining us today Charli. We wish you the greatest success with the expansion of the brand this year and cannot wait to see it on the shelves. To check out the collection, click here.