Merchandiser Marisa Giraudo (far right) came to visit us in NYC with her friend Livia! Marisa started selling C + I back in August 2011 and is from San Francisco, where she’s studying Product Development at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. We love her blog, Broke with Designer Taste, and we love the way she wore our Retro Glam Crystal Necklace.

How does one go from a successful career in fashion to starting their own tech company? That is exactly what Business Insider wanted to know when they sat down with our founder and CEO Chantel Waterbury. In this article, they cover a wide variety of topics ranging from how to climb up the corporate ladder, the importance of software and engineers when forming a company, and why so many CEOs are men — even in a female-dominated industry like fashion.

  The article is a must-read for anyone interested in either the business or tech side of any fashion line — it’s crazy how much they interlap! Here’s one of our favorite parts of the feature, but make sure to read the whole story on Business Insider. Business Insider: When did you decide that it was a good time to leave and start Chloe + Isabel? Chantel Waterbury: The biggest mission driving me was, “How can you do something that will make a difference in this world?” Fashion is exhausting. You’re so passionate about what you’re doing. I was now married, and I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The Chloe + Isabel model was that perfect business model: empowering women, providing a financial opportunity for women. It’s a social-selling model. It’s very similar to the 125-year-old direct-selling industry, but it never catered to Generation Y. It’s an aging industry.

We were super-excited to meet Merchandiser Emily Cleary, who totally impressed us with her social media savvy and stylin’ fashion sense. Thanks for visiting all the way from Illinois, Emily!

(Above): Emily at C + I headquarters with our Founder/CEO Chantel Waterbury.

We also totally adored the C + I mini springtime arm party she was rocking! Get the look yourself by wearing our Multi-Charm Garden Bracelet with a Pyramid Leather Wrap and Modern Oval Bangle Set.