Wren's Melissa Coker

Wren's Melissa Coker is most inspired by fictional characters whose beauty manifests through their
imperfections. Founded in 2007, Wren is a literary-inspired line named after Jenny Wren from Charles
Dickens' Our Mutual Friend, the last book published by the iconic writer. Growing up in Lake Forest,
Ill., Coker began her career in fashion with an internship at the then newly launched Helmut Lang,
followed by editorial positions at Vogue, W and Details. The designer stepped out on her own in 2007
and made her dream collection come true, gaining inspiration from characters like Auntie Mame and
Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan, famously played by Madonna.

Coker fell into fashion almost by accident. “I actually wanted to be involved in film in some way and could not get an internship in the industry to save my life,” she told Uinterview exclusively. She then applied for a fashion internship instead. “I went out for that [Helmut Lang internship],” she says, “and got it and my journey into the fashion world had begun.”