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
Marshalls Is Closing Stores: See Updated List of Shuttered Locations for 2026
Kenchen Bharwani, a New York-based fashion consultant at Empire Apparel LLC who sources for Marmaxx Group stores like Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, told Inc. that TJX is “being very selective about where it puts its next dollar.” She added that these closures give her...
Apparel retailers adopt AI as U.S. and Europe tighten supply chain rules
H&M has reported using AI to identify flood risks and factory closures in Bangladesh and to scale back some production there, while a company press contact said the retailer uses AI to improve visibility, cut waste, and support sustainability goals. Bharwani added...
Retailers See Mixed Sales as Consumers Tighten, Not Retreat
“Shoppers will continue to be hunting for discounts,” Kenchen Bharwani, a fashion consultant for Empire Apparel LLC in New York, told The Epoch Times, predicting off-price chains will keep winning if they maintain a strong mix of recognizable brands. Walmart, she...
Professional Recognitions
Judge for 2026 Globee Awards For Business
Kenchen Bharwani was selected to serve as a judge for the 16th Annual 2026 Globee® Awards for Business, an international program recognizing excellence in business leadership, innovation and commercial achievement.
It reflects the value of her specialized expertise in the global fashion industry, particularly in off-price retail, apparel merchandising and international supply chains. Her experience assessing fashion merchandise profitability, market opportunities, operational efficiencies and commercial viability makes her well-suited to reviewing nominations across different disciplines assigned to her.
Through this appointment, she contributes her fashion industry knowledge and commercial judgment to identifying organizations and professionals whose achievements demonstrate measurable impact and effective execution.
Case Study Judge for Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) Scholarship Competition
Kenchen Bharwani was invited to serve as a Case Study Judge and Reviewer for the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) Scholarship Competition. Her industry experience across apparel sourcing, garment development, assortment planning, consumer buying behavior in regards to clothing, pricing architecture and merchandise positioning provides a valuable perspective across the competition's four disciplines: design, merchandising, marketing and business strategy.
As a reviewer, Kenchen evaluated case studies exploring how fashion brands and retailers can establish stronger connections with distinct consumer groups that present significant commercial opportunities. Participants are challenged to identify unmet lifestyle and wardrobe needs of a unique consumer group, examine purchasing patterns and propose strategies that translate consumer insights into relevant product assortments, brand experiences and viable retail opportunities.
Panelist at LIM College for Fusion Fashion Tech Society Event - 23rd September 2026
Kenchen was invited to join the Fusion Fashion Tech Society event at LIM College as a panelist by Ambriel Pouncy, the founder of Fusion Fashion Tech Society, where one of the questions assigned to her was : where can AI create genuine value for fashion across design, fit, forecasting, inventory, discovery and resale, and where could it simply accelerate overproduction, sameness or exclusion?
Kenchen shared her view that most value is created when it helps fashion make fewer wrong decisions. Coming from the off-price side of the industry, she often sees what happens after a forecast misses: too much inventory, the wrong color, late shipments or demand shifting. Perfectly wearable garments can suddenly be left without a clear destination. AI can help to rectify this earlier through better trend forecasting, smarter allocation and stronger sizing tools can reduce excess, deadstock and apparel returns. It can help designers test prints, colorways and silhouettes faster as well.
Judge for 2026 Herizon Awards by Business Intelligence Group
Kenchen was invited by the Business Intelligence Group to serve as a judge for the 2026 Herizon Awards, a global recognition program celebrating women who rise, lead and inspire through their contributions to business, leadership and community. As part of the judging panel, Kenchen was entrusted with reviewing the achievements of these women, evaluating their leadership, entrepreneurial accomplishments, innovation and the impact of their work.
With an immense amount of experience in the global fashion industry, spanning apparel sourcing, merchandising, international trade and off-price retail, Kenchen brought a fresh perspective to the judging process. Her experience working across international fashion markets shaped her approach to recognizing women who have built businesses, challenged industry conventions and created meaningful opportunities for others.
Podcast Guest - School For Startups Radio
During the interviewer on School for Startups Radio, Kenchen took listeners beyond the sales rack and into the mechanics of off-price fashion: branded closeouts, cancelled POs, production overruns, and stocklots that have fallen out of the full-price channel.
She explained that a big part of her role is to read the potential of the garment styles presented to her, edit the assortment, and judge its seasonal relevance, buyer fit, price architecture, and potential sell-through. The conversation connected these everyday merchandising decisions to fashion waste. Branded apparel moves from factory stock into fresh off-price edits, giving wearable silhouettes a place on the rack and in someone’s wardrobe before they become deadstock or textile waste.
Co-Author in the book Rx For Career Success “Elevate Your Mindset,
Transform Your Career"
The book chapter Kenchen authored examines the role of creativity as a practical skill in career development. Through personal experience and observation, she shared 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.
Publications
8 Ways to Give Surplus Fashion a Second Life
Fashion surplus often has less to do with poor product than people assume. A style can have the right handfeel, a clean fit, solid construction and a recognizable brand behind it, yet still end up sitting in cartons because the delivery ran late, the buyer cut units,...
A Better Nightgown Starts With the Fabric
Sleepwear has become one of the most interesting corners of off-price fashion because the category is doing more than selling comfort. That shift can be seen in fabric choices, print scale, fit and even in the return of silhouettes that once felt old fashioned. The...
Dressing for a Life You Don’t Post: Fashion Beyond the Feed
Do you feel like you live through your social media feed? You take pictures for the sole purpose of posting them on Instagram. You get ideas on what to wear from TikTok. You’re curating your next purchases and saving outfit inspiration on Pinterest. It’s easy to think...