If you have spent any time reading about quiet luxury in the last few years, you have read about Khaite. The New York label has become a kind of shorthand for the look: cashmere that costs more than it should and earns it, denim cut like a memory of the perfect old pair, tailoring with just enough sensuality to stop it feeling clinical. Here is who Khaite actually is, and why it earned the reputation.

Who founded Khaite?

Khaite was founded in 2016 by Catherine Holstein, a designer who grew up in New York and trained at Parsons. She had launched and closed an earlier label before Khaite, and the second attempt was sharper for it. The name comes from the Greek word for flowing hair, which tells you something about the intent: softness and movement, even in the most structured pieces. Holstein designs as creative director and runs the house from New York.

What is Khaite known for?

Two things, mostly. The first is knitwear. The cashmere cardigans and sweaters are the pieces that built the label, fitted close and finished to last, and they are still the best place to start if you are buying Khaite for the first time. The second is denim, cut in American mills with a vintage-leaning rise and a relaxed leg. Around those two pillars sit the slip dresses, the leather, and the tailoring that complete the wardrobe.

The cultural moment that sealed it came in 2019, when Katie Holmes was photographed in a Khaite cashmere bra and matching cardigan. The set sold out within the hour, and the cardigan has been quietly copied ever since. Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Beyoncé have all worn the label since.

Is Khaite a luxury brand?

Yes, and the industry has said so plainly. Holstein won the CFDA American Womenswear Designer of the Year award in 2022 and again in 2023, back-to-back recognition that very few designers hold. The prices sit firmly in luxury territory, the knitwear and leather are made in Italy, and the denim is cut and finished in the United States. This is investment dressing, not fast fashion playing dress-up.

Where to start with Khaite

Begin with a single cashmere piece in a colour you will wear constantly, then add the denim, then build out. The label rewards a tight palette and a few considered buys rather than a big seasonal haul. Shop the full range at Luxury Handbags across Khaite knitwear, denim and trousers, dresses, and coats and outerwear, or see everything on the Khaite brand page.

For how to put it together, read our guide to styling Khaite. If you are weighing it against its peers, we compare it with The Row, Totême, and more in brands like Khaite, and the season’s standout pieces are in the Pre-Fall 2026 edit.

Frequently asked questions