The Chakeris founder releaes her first resort collection this month
In a city defined by humidity and high style, the holy grail of Charleston dressing is the easy throw-on—that elusive piece that’s equal parts relaxed and polished. It’s a dress code Sara Chakeris knows well. The Charleston native grew up surrounded by clothing design thanks to her mother’s breezy resort wear brand, Madison Mathews. Still, despite that early exposure—tagging along to markets in Atlanta, spending after-school hours in the shop, and working retail during summers—Chakeris never planned to follow in her mom’s footsteps.
After earning a business degree from the University of Mississippi in 2022, she moved to New York City to pursue a job in finance. While on the hunt (and reckoning with the fact that she was now funding her own lifestyle), she started designing samples for herself and sending them to the manufacturer of Madison Mathews in India. “It was just for fun,” she says.
However, as soon as the samples arrived, people began stopping her on the street to ask where she got them. A light bulb went off. “I realized, maybe I should do this,” she says. “I love it.” On the encouragement of her mother to just give it a try, Chakeris was born.
Over the past four years, Chakeris has carved out a niche of easy-wearing silhouettes enlivened with fresh prints and embroidery. The versatile line spans sets and dresses, skirts and sarongs, boxer shorts for women and children, and washable totes. The collection, produced in India, makes use of the country’s rich textile heritage. With most frocks in 100-percent cotton, the clothing is inherently wearable, the types of pieces one can throw on and head out the door without a second thought. Womenswear, which retails between $42 and $198, is available on her website at chakeris.com and in-person at Madison Mathews. Each piece is named for a friend, including her first design: the “Ella” dress.
Last year, Chakeris moved back home and now runs the brand out of an office and warehouse on Calhoun Street. It’s still largely a one-woman show, save for a friend who works part-time. This year will bring new fabrics and embroideries, alongside the brand’s first resort capsule, launching March 18.
Though the line has continued to grow—boosted by a spotlight on the front page of The New York Times Styles section in 2024—Chakeris is focused on keeping a small-batch approach. “I don’t need to have a hundred pairs of this and a hundred pairs of that,” she says. “There’s something special about ‘once it’s gone, it’s gone.’”
