Boston born and raised, Denise Hajjar inherited her design interest and talent from her grandmother who was also a designer in Damascus, Syria and her grandfather who was a patternmaker and dress factory owner from Beirut, Lebanon.
After graduating from The School of Fashion Design, Denise decided to stay close to her Boston roots and start a business here. With almost 30 years in her own design business, Denise has established herself as a top designer, having sold her creations nationally to department stores, specialty boutiques, and individual clients worldwide.
In March of 2006, Denise was asked by the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, who was looking for someone "authentically Boston", to be their "Designer-in- Residence". Opening her retail boutique has been an unbelievable opportunity to showcase her ready-to-wear line of day and evening wear, her made-to-order, and one-of-a-kind designs to customers from all over the world.
In September of 2007, Boston Globe's noted photographer Bill Brett included Denise with other Boston notables in his second book "Boston - an extended family".
In December of 2007, Denise was ask to be a speaker at "The Mass Conference of Women", sharing her story with the over 5,000 women in attendance.
Denise has designed costumes for television, theatre, commercials and movies, such as:
"Johnny Slades Greatest Hits", starring John Fiori of the Sopranos; "Undercurrent" starring Lorenzo Lamas and Brenda Strong (who currently is the voice of Mary Alice Young on the television show "Desperate Housewives"); new uniforms for the "Boston Children's Chorus" and most recently, 5 gowns for Vanna White from "The Wheel of Fortune".
Denise has received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Fashion, Vision Leader Award, Exceptional Women Award, The Distinguished Alumni Award and Rising Star of the Year Award, to just name a few.
Denise and her designs are frequently featured and reviewed in magazines, newspapers and television. Her clothes are worn by celebrities, politicians and news anchors attending prestigious events and award programs such as the Tonys, Emmys and Oscars.
Denise believes, "While I show people how to look good on the outside, it is more important that we know how to take care of our insides." She has been part the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women, The ALS Association - "Eleanor's Affair", and "Dress for Success" - Boston, among others.
Denise Hajjar has always believed that bringing fashion and celebrity together can entertain people as well as raise funds for important causes. To that end, Denise created and founded "Big Dreams Start Small", an event to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Since inception ten years ago, this event has raised over 2 million dollars for St. Jude's, which resulted in Denise and her committee receiving the "St. Jude Volunteer Group of the Year Award."
"Giving back should be the rule, not the exception." For over 20 years, Denise's most passionate cause has been the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Finding cures. Saving lives. She fervently supports the research, treatment and commitment of the medical teams at the hospital, knowing that St. Jude is a "beacon of light in a parent's darkest night."
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