Q&A With Founder & CEO Coral Chung

by Heather Chadwell-Aminzadeh / Nov 24, 2023

It’s no surprise that SENREVE’s founder Coral Chung has always had a thing for fashion. Her line of accessories is the perfect modern embodiment of her global upbringing. In celebration of Small Business Saturday, we asked our founder and fearless leader some questions about the path that led her to start a company and where she got the inspiration to create her own brand. Take a glimpse at where SENREVE is headed, check out a few of Coral’s favorite things, and learn why she created the perfect handbag for the woman on the go.

Where did you grow up and do you think it helped shape the woman you are today?

I grew up in LA, but was born in China and lived and worked in a lot of places including Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, New York and that really helped me understand different cultures and is an incredible source of inspiration for me from a fashion perspective.


Who inspired your sense of fashion (your mother, fashion magazines, Hollywood)?
I’ve always been surrounded by fashionable women my mom has 3 sisters so my aunts always allowed me make fashion playful and it gave me a sense of community.

Tell us a little bit more about your mom.. what you learned about from her, how she shaped you into the woman you are today?
She’s a really strong woman who started her career as a chemist then reinvented herself many times. She’s a huge inspiration in terms of balancing motherhood with so many other responsibilities. She’s a super engaged grandmother now and is a pillar in my life that I can always count on.

How has becoming a mother yourself changed your style?
Hasn’t changed much, but I do love bags that allow me to be hands free!

Where did your entrepreneurial spirit come from?
I grew up in a very entrepreneurial household. My parents were professors turned entrepreneurs when they immigrated to America. In fact, many of my aunts and uncles are entrepreneurs or creative people like writers or artists.

Where did you go to college? What was your career path in college?
I went to Penn and Wharton and did a dual degree in international relations and finance and management. I love connecting with people globally through business.

What are some of your favorite brands to pair SENREVE with right now?
These days I love my Ilia lip gloss, MM LaFleur cardigan, and Stella McCartney shoes.

Why the name SENREVE?
SENREVE is built upon the coexistence of dichotomies: everyday and fantasy, tradition and innovation, design and versatility—creating an elevated experience that defies trade-offs. This philosophy is behind everything we do and built into our name, which is derived from the French words for "sense" and "dream".
PS - it’s pronounced SEN - REV.

What is the mission of SENREVE. Where do you see the brand going? What’s next?
We’re pushing the envelope for luxury accessories. Our team is redesigning the staple handbag styles that a woman must have in her closet, to create accessories that are as beautiful as they are functional.
Our direct-to-consumer model enables us to offer exceptional  luxury brand quality at a fraction of the price. Our handbags are made in Italy and Spain with luxury materials alongside handbags from some of the most covetable brands in the world, but are offered at a fair price.
In the next year we have several exciting things in the works, from the opening of a new store, to the debut of a big collection, and the launch of new silhouettes.

Advice for young women who have a business idea and want to see it to fruition? Where do they begin?
Identify the problem you’re trying to solve. For me, it was finding a work bag that was both functional enough for my busy life and stylish enough to match my aesthetic. Then get to work designing around that problem that you’re trying to solve.

Not only is SENREVE amazing for the working woman but also for the traveler. Which bag would you recommend for travel?
The Cadence Tote - it is the perfect wear-everywhere travel bag.

What is one quote that the SENREVE Woman should live by?
"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." —Coco Chanel