Rodarte
United States
Rodarte is an American luxury fashion label founded in 2005 by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, based in Los Angeles. It is known for meticulously crafted womenswear and a 2009 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award.
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Kate and Laura Mulleavy |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, United States |
| Ownership | Private |
| Award | CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year (2009) |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
| Website | shoprodarte.com |
What is Rodarte?
Rodarte is a Los Angeles womenswear label created by the sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy. The name is the original Spanish spelling of their mother's maiden name, Rodart. The company is private, and no investor or parent group is named in the sources used.
History
After leaving college in 2002, the sisters returned to Aptos, California, and saved US$16,500 to create a first capsule collection. Their first collection had ten pieces. After a Women's Wear Daily cover in February 2005, they met Vogue editor Anna Wintour. The label won several awards for its craftsmanship, including the 2009 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award.
Products and positioning
Rodarte is positioned as a luxury womenswear house, known for couture-style dresses, coats, shirts, shoes and limited-edition collaborations. Its aesthetic has shifted towards darker, deconstructed, punk and gothic styles, influenced by anime and horror films. Pieces are held in museum collections such as the Met and LACMA.
Business model and distribution
The official online store sells seasonal collections (Fall/Winter 2026 at the time of review), a bridal range in silk crepe, an archival shop of past-season pieces and a lower-priced second line called Radarte. A collaboration with Bratz was on pre-order. Earlier mass-market tie-ups included Gap in 2007 and Target in 2009. Wholesale accounts and sales figures are not given in the sources, so none are listed.
Why it matters
Rodarte is one of the best-known American designer brands built from a small family studio rather than a large group, and it has combined couture-style craft with licensed collaborations and its own direct online shop.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Rodarte?
Rodarte was founded in 2005 by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy. They started the label in California and now work from Los Angeles.
Where is Rodarte from?
Rodarte is an American brand based in Los Angeles. The name comes from the Spanish spelling of the sisters' mother's maiden name.