Marlena Maree

Biography

The Marlena Maree collection reflects a balance of European elegance and the modern American woman. Since starting her own label, Marlena Serbanescu has woven together her love for remarkable fabrics and exquisite detail.

She was only seven when she transformed her grandmother’s antique lace tablecloth into a sweet summer dress. Born in Romania, Marlena began her career in Bucharest with the encouragement of her friends and family. She worked out of her home making clothing and hand-knitting accessories, all the while gaining experience and expertise.

In 1988 she moved to Chicago along with her daughter and decided to pursue her dream. After adjusting to a new lifestyle and inspired by her surroundings, Marlena decided to open her own store on Armitage, a prominent area of Chicago. Her reputation quickly grew as a stylish designer with innovative twists.

“I want to bring softness and elegance to a woman’s wardrobe. I want her to feel unique, yet comfortable and show her individual style through my clothes”.

In 2004, her daughter, Ana-Maria decided to join the company. Operating out of New York, she took on the role of managing director and creative liaison. In Fall of 2005 they re-launched Marlena Maree, the label. They opened 15 doors their first season.

In September of 2006, Marlena Maree was selected as the top five emerging designers by GenArt, hosting the Fresh Faces Fashion Show featuring 10 looks from the Spring 2007 collection. Soon after, Marlena Maree was again invited to participate in a very glamorous fashion show hosted by GenArt presenting Fall 2007 looks. As a result Marlena Maree has been recently featured in WWD, Lucky, Chicago Social, Chicago Magazine and Daily Candy.

Marlena Maree is represented by Cynthia O’Connor and Company Showroom in New York. They showcase three collections per year: Spring, Fall and Resort. Marlena Maree is available in specialty stores nation wide and internationally, in Moscow.