Hey There!
I'M KENCHEN.
I began my career in Indonesia, working close to the manufacturing and export side of apparel. That experience gave me a strong foundation in fabrication, construction, costing, fit, quality, wash, trim, finishing, and product development. It also taught me how to read a garment beyond the hanger and understand where it belongs in the market.
At Empire Apparel LLC, I work with merchandise from a wide range of well-known national brands, evaluating cancelled orders, production overruns, surplus inventory, branded closeouts, and opportunistic buys. Working with recognized brands requires a strong understanding of brand equity, original MSRP, category positioning, customer expectations, and how that product should sit within an off-price assortment.
My experience spans a broad category mix across women’s and men’s apparel, including denim, knit tops, fleece, outerwear, sleepwear, activewear, workwear, basics, and seasonal fashion. I pay close attention to silhouette, fabrication, hand feel, fit, wash, color story, trim, size scale, trend relevance, opening price points, and perceived value.
I have also worked across sourcing and manufacturing markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, giving me a broad understanding of how product moves from factory production to buyer review and ultimately to the retail rack.
A large part of my work is knowing how to read product quickly. I consider whether a style still feels current, how it compares within its category, whether the price-to-value relationship works, how much brand recognition matters, and which retail channel gives the merchandise the best fit.
My career has been built around product knowledge, branded merchandise, trend awareness, assortment instinct, and a deep understanding of value within the off-price market.
Welcome to my world, where the right eye can turn overlooked merchandise into the right fashion opportunity !
As seen on
Press
Apparel retailers are turning to AI as supply chain regulations tighten in the US and Europe
Brands like ASOS, H&M, and Gap are turning to AI platforms to unearth the complex layers of their supply chains, where sourcing, tariffs, water use, regulations, weather, and other factors impact how apparel is made and shipped. "AI helps them bring the hidden...
How Kenchen Arjandas Bharwani Explains Off-Price Fashion, Surplus Inventory, and Waste Reduction
Kenchen Arjandas Bharwani is a fashion consultant specializing in the off-price apparel sector, with expertise in inventory distribution, excess stock recovery, and supply chain strategy. She is a professional in the fields of manufacturing and retail, helping...
In Her Own Words: In the world of off-price fashion, Kenchen Bharwani sees value others miss
If one woman’s trash is another’s treasure, Kenchen Bharwani has found the keys to the kingdom in the off-price fashion industry. There’s opportunity all around if you keep an open mind and get creative. In fact, if I had to boil down the reason for my career success,...
Professional Recognitions
Co-Author in the book Rx For Career Success “Elevate Your Mindset,
Transform Your Career
The book chapter I authored examines the role of creativity as a practical skill in career development. Through personal experience and observation, I share how stepping away from rigid career formulas allows for challenges to be approached differently, unlocking new opportunities, and growth within highly competitive environments. Rather than positioning creativity as a talent reserved for artists or designers, the chapter presents it as a mindset that professionals across fields can develop to improve problem-solving, decision-making, and long-term career progression.
Shaken NOT Burned Podcast – The realities of circular fashion with Rifò, and Kenchen from Empire Apparel LLC with Giulia Bottaro
Kenchen was featured in an in-depth interview with Giulia discussing the often-overlooked realities of the fashion supply chain, including how commercially viable garments can be rejected or discarded for minor reasons, how deadstock accumulates, and how the off-price market can help redirect products that may otherwise become waste. The conversation examined sustainability beyond consumer purchasing habits, focusing instead on the decisions made before a garment reaches the sales floor and what happens when it does not sell as planned. Kenchen shared insight into how excess inventory is created across multiple stages of the fashion system and why meaningful progress requires operational changes in forecasting, production, inventory management, and distribution, alongside more conscious consumer choices.
Invited Speaker / Presenter – FAIREE (Fashion AI Research Enterprise and Education Hub) – 3rd International Symposium on AI in Fashion – London College of Fashion, University of the Arts – London (Virtual) – June 11, 2026
Kenchen presented “Evaluating AI-Driven Off-Price Retail as an Ethical Sustainability Mechanism in Fashion,” examining whether AI can help position off-price retail as a more responsible solution for excess inventory, overproduction, and fashion waste. Her presentation explored how AI-driven forecasting, inventory allocation, and resale or off-price distribution can support more sustainable decision-making across the fashion system while also addressing the ethical risks connected to accountability, labour, creativity, cultural representation, and responsible technology use. The symposium brought together researchers, educators, industry practitioners, and policymakers to share research, case studies, and critical perspectives on the future of Fashion AI.
Participated as a Juror for the A’ Design Awards – Member of the Grand Jury Panel
In this role, Kenchen collaborated alongside a distinguished panel of globally recognized designers, professors, entrepreneurs, journalists, and publishers to evaluate and select outstanding design innovations across multiple categories.
As part of the Grand Jury, Kenchen contributed expert insight and critical evaluation to assess submissions in the apparel and textile category based on creativity, functionality, sustainability, and market relevance. The judging process involved reviewing a diverse range of projects from designers and companies worldwide, recognizing work that demonstrates exceptional originality and impact within the global design and creative industries.
The A’ Design Award is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading international design competitions, celebrating innovation and excellence across disciplines. Serving on the Grand Jury reflects a commitment to advancing design standards while supporting emerging and established talents who are shaping the future of design.
Participated as a speaker and lead workshop host for Business Outreach Centre (BOC) Network – Women’s Business Centre
Drawing from her nearly two decades of experiences, Kenchen led a workshop surrounding the theme of finding a niche in a saturated market. The invitation was kindly extended to her by the director, Delia Awusi, the director of WBC – Brooklyn. Kenchen shared practical frameworks drawn from her work in off-price fashion to help participants identify overlooked opportunities and redefine value in competitive markets.
She translated real-world fashion strategies, such as surplus repositioning, audience matching, and storytelling, into tools that can be applied across other industries. The workshop included interactive exercises focused on brand positioning, audience targeting, and emotional differentiation. It reinforced her approach to helping professionals turn market saturation into clarity, relevance, and sustainable growth.
Ideas & Impact by Jeremy Jones Podcast
In this podcast interview with Jeremy, Kenchen Bharwani discussed how creativity is redefining the off-price fashion industry—not just through innovative products, but by reimagining processes, customer experiences, and ways of delivering value in a fast-moving market. She highlighted that sustainable growth in off-price fashion comes from cultivating strong, trust-based relationships across suppliers, customers, and industry peers, which build resilience and open unexpected opportunities. Kenchen also stressed the importance of agility, explaining that businesses able to pivot quickly in times of crisis can transform market disruptions into new avenues for growth.
The Recommerce Show – Inside The World Of Off-Price Fashion Sourcing with Shivang Maheshwari
In her recent conversation with podcast host Shivang, Kenchen Bharwani unpacked the evolving landscape of off-price fashion, drawing on her unique background, her past work experiences and her current experience at Empire Apparel LLC. She shared how creativity, trust, and strategic relationships shape effective liquidation and recommerce strategies, transforming what many see as “discounted goods” into opportunities for brand growth and customer connection. Kenchen emphasized that off-price fashion is not a race to the bottom but a dynamic channel where strong ethics, agile crisis management, and thoughtful presentation can turn excess inventory into high-performing assets. Looking ahead, she highlighted the shift of brands viewing recommerce as a strategic lever rather than a last resort, signaling a more sustainable and innovative future for off-price fashion.