Who Is Dôen? The Women-Run Los Angeles Label, Explained

Dôen is a Los Angeles clothing label founded by sisters Margaret and Katherine Kleveland and launched in 2016. It is known for romantic, vintage-minded dresses and blouses in organic cotton and silk, and it is run by women. You can shop the full Dôen collection at Coveti, and if you are new to the label, our guide to the best Dôen dresses is a good first stop.

Who founded Dôen?

Dôen was founded by Margaret and Katherine Kleveland, sisters born in Santa Barbara, California. According to the brand, both had spent years in the fashion industry and noticed how few women led fashion companies. They set out to build one that was owned and run by women, and that listened closely to the women who wore it.

Who owns Dôen?

The sisters launched the brand with a collective of Los Angeles women, creatives and business leaders, all of whom became equity owners. In 2020 Dôen added a new equity partner: one of its long-standing vendors, the owners of a factory it works with. The brand presents this as a way to share both the risk and the reward with the people who make the clothes.

What does the name look like, and how is it written?

The brand writes its name in capitals with a circumflex, DÔEN. Retailers and shoppers also write it as Dôen and Doen. They all refer to the same label.

What is Dôen known for?

Dôen is best known for its dresses: smocked bodices, puffed sleeves, ruffled necklines and small floral prints, in fabrics such as organic cotton voile and silk. The brand says its designs draw on the landscapes of the sisters’ youth, from oak groves and orchards to the soft colours of the Pacific.

Across the Dôen pieces at Coveti, organic cotton and silk are the most common fibres, followed by viscose, wool, cashmere and merino in the knitwear. The label also makes blouses, skirts, knitwear, denim, swimwear and sleepwear. See the Dôen tops guide and the Dôen knitwear guide for those.

Favorite Characters and Heirloom

Two names come up often. Favorite Characters is what Dôen calls the styles that return season after season, such as the Ischia Dress in Salt and the Henri Top in Salt. Dôen Heirloom is the label’s most detailed line, inspired by Edwardian lawn dresses and corset covers and worked in voile with inset lace, as in the Adrienne Dress in Salt and the Hertise Top in Salt.

Where are Dôen clothes made?

Dôen designs in Los Angeles and manufactures with partners abroad. Each product page states the country of manufacture. In our first Dôen delivery, China and India are the most common, with smaller numbers made in Vietnam, Turkey, Peru, Portugal and Indonesia. The knitwear made in Peru uses alpaca and fine wool.

How much does Dôen cost?

At Coveti, Dôen ranges from under 200 US dollars for slips to several thousand for the hand-finished Heirloom gowns. Most cotton dresses and blouses sit between 400 and 800 US dollars.

Is Dôen a sustainable brand?

We avoid blanket labels. What can be said is specific: Dôen uses a large share of organic cotton, it shares ownership with a factory partner, and it designs pieces meant to be kept. Read each product’s composition to see what it is made of.

Brands similar to Dôen

If you like Dôen, look at Ulla Johnson for a more bohemian take, Zimmermann for dressier prints and Cecilie Bahnsen for sculptural volume. Our full list of brands like Dôen goes further.

Shop new Dôen

Every piece below is in stock at Coveti now, authenticated and shipped worldwide. See the full Dôen collection for every colourway.

• Dôen Hesperia Dress in Hanbury Garden, 1060 US dollars. The Hesperia Dress is a fitted dress in silk crinkle chiffon, cut with a cowl neckline and flutter sleeves.
• Dôen Silvanie Dress in Camille Dot, 690 US dollars. Twill gives the Silvanie Dress its ease.
• Dôen Armance Dress in Red Snapdragon, 980 US dollars. Silk crinkle chiffon gives the Armance Dress its ease.
• Dôen Odessa Dress in Red Snapdragon, 980 US dollars. The Odessa Dress is a bias-cut dress in silk crinkle chiffon.
• Dôen Ischia Dress in Noir Dot, 650 US dollars. Dôen makes the Ischia Dress in organic cotton voile: an easy dress with a scoop neckline and double-puffed sleeves.
• Dôen Rowan Dress in Noir Dot, 730 US dollars. The Rowan Dress is a bias-cut dress in organic cotton voile, cut with a square neckline and puffed sleeves.
• Dôen Charisse Dress in Shimmering Shell, 1870 US dollars. The Charisse Dress is an A-line dress in silk chiffon.
• Dôen Nereida Dress in Mermaid, 1570 US dollars. The Nereida Dress is a soft dress in silk organza.
• Dôen Hedy Dress in Egret, 1870 US dollars. Cut in silk satin, the Hedy Dress is a bias-cut dress with a cowl neckline.
• Dôen Valline Dress in Sapphire, 980 US dollars. Silk satin gives the Valline Dress its ease.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the founders of Dôen?

Dôen was founded by Santa Barbara-born sisters Margaret and Katherine Kleveland, together with a collective of Los Angeles women who became equity owners.

When was Dôen founded?

Dôen launched in 2016.

Where is Dôen based?

Dôen is based in Los Angeles, California.

Who owns Dôen?

Dôen is owned by its founders and a collective of women equity owners. In 2020 a long-standing factory partner also became an equity owner.

Is Dôen a luxury brand?

Dôen sits at the premium end of contemporary fashion. Its cotton dresses cost less than designer runway labels, while its Heirloom pieces are priced like luxury eveningwear.