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OUR STORY

Stephanie Schaich and Barry Bricken are an accomplished husband 
and wife team with years of experience in the fashion industry and
 a passion for creating beautiful things.

After living and working in New York for more than 20 years, they
 decided to enjoy a simpler life and moved with their two boys to the quaint 
beach town of Spring Lake, New Jersey. They work out of their home
 and continue to travel to New York, Portugal, Paris and London cultivating 
their business.

Their classic designs with hints of special detailing and a perfected fit are tailored in Portugal and the USA.  They believe in quality and longevity.  They value every piece designed and they hope that comes across and that you cherish and love the pieces that you choose.  The business supports Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that offers professional women the tools to succeed.  Their service travels to Africa have brought them an awareness and energy that has newly shaped their lives.

STEPHANIE SCHAICH

Stephanie was born in 1966, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She grew up in the rural town of Lititz with her father Edward, a fine artist and retired art director, her mother Sharon, a cut paper artist and her two brothers Jeff and David, who have both built successful businesses in the graphic design and industrial design fields.  After achieving notable awards at Drexel University, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1988 and moved to New York taking a design job at her dream company, Ellen Tracy. After designing for Ellen Tracy for six years, Stephanie saw growth in the direct sales market and took a job with Worth, a personal shopping company, and designed there for five years eventually partnering as head designer.

In 1998, Stephanie took the job as Design Director of Barry Bricken womenswear; she and Barry married two years later. Stephanie infuses every collection with a bit of wit and charm in her colorful linings and unique details. Fit is her forte. She likes to take a classic jacket shape and add special touches.  

Stephanie is currently studying for a master’s degree in Holistic Health. Inspired by her studies, and by her trip to Africa, she has developed a business creating holistic products made in America. The first of these is the Protection Pillow.  Her products can be found at www.juliaandjosephine.com and on Etsy.

BARRY BRICKEN

Barry has been a leader in the fashion industry for over four decades, establishing a reputation for fit, consistency, color, texture, and a passion for subtle details. Versatile and multi-faceted, Barry possesses the comprehensive knowledge to merchandise, sell and market a collection of the finest women’s clothing.

His career began with Trousers By Barry, luxury men’s trousers manufactured in America. He was trained by his father, Morris J. Bricken, who started the family business in 1945. Barry’s ground-breaking men’s fashion business became well known for casual elegance. Sales exploded in upscale retailers including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Parisian, Bloomingdale’s and Paul Stuart.

After this initial success, he launched a line of women’s bridge trousers under the Barry Bricken label, catapulting volume from $7 million to $20 million. Barry Bricken was synonymous with the best-fitting men’s and women’s trousers in the market—a model that many others tried to imitate. He produced 8,000 pairs of pants a week, overseeing an organization of 100 in staff. The women’s business grew to 80% of the total product and Barry expanded into a full collection by the mid-1980’s. He opened 12 retail stores in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Boston, Baltimore, Washington DC, Seattle, Palm Beach, and other key cities.

Barry sold the company in 2006 when he and Stephanie moved to New Jersey with their boys to start this new collection.  

A member of the Council of Fashion Designers of American (CFDA), Barry was also the founder of the men’s fashion trade group aimed at fashion forward buyers, the Designers Collective.