Cynthia Rowley is known for her unique themes and creative twists on fashion's classics. Born and raised in Illinois, Rowley sold her first eight-piece collection as a senior at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After years of hard work, the Cynthia Rowley Collection has grown to include menswear, jeans, shoes, eyewear, hosiery, umbrellas, handbags, small leather goods, and a signature fragrance. The two-time CFDA award winner's items are sold in Cynthia Rowley boutiques throughout New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, East Hampton, Southampton, and Japan, in addition to better department and specialty stores. Known to get as excited about her quarterly statements as she does about her upcoming designs, Cynthia Rowley is a model of successful navigation in a trend-driven industry, with an abundance of astute business tips to share.

In 1999, Cynthia Rowley and her best friend, former deputy style editor for the New York Times, Ilene Rosenzweig, co-authored the best-selling book, "Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life," followed by "Home Swell Home" and "Swell Holiday." The next book in the series, an entertainment guide titled "The Swell Dressed Party," landed on bookshelves in Spring 2005, and Swell's general popularity has propelled many gracious spin-offs, including a monthly column in Glamour, engagement calendars, mini-books, home products, and Swell-related television programs.

In 2004 Cynthia Rowley signed a licensing deal with Tarrant Apparel for the design, production, and distribution of jeans. The namesake company is owned by Cynthia Rowley, the designer.