- Based
- San Diego, California
- Craft
- Embroidered Jewish lifestyle apparel
Chai Vekayam is Sonya Smith's answer to a simple question: why save Jewish pride for holidays, big occasions or hard times? Sonya, a San Diego product manager who once worked as a stylist in designer fashion and retail, started the brand in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. It began small, selling Jewish pride merch to raise money for Israeli families affected by the attacks, and grew from there.
The name borrows the Hebrew phrase chai v'kayam, alive and enduring, and the logo spells out the mission: a heart for love, the Hebrew word chai (life) at its center, and a cape for strength.
The line is built on elevated everyday basics, from embroidered crewneck sweatshirts and matching sets to Pilates grip socks with heart-shaped grips. Giving is part of the business. The brand reports sending 63 baskets to families in Israel and donating $13,000 to the Bibas Fund, and it designs custom campus collections with Hillels and Chabads, sending 18% of those online sales back to the student groups.
Shop Chai Vekayam sweatshirts and socks for Jewish pride you can wear any day of the week.
Good to know
- Giving$13,000 donated to the Bibas Fund and 63 baskets sent to families in Israel
- CampusCustom collections with Hillels and Chabads, 18% of online sales back to student groups
- PressFeatured in SDVoyager
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