A full service agency focused on Strategy, Media, Design, Content, and Technology.

About The Charles

The Charles is a full service creative and digital agency with offices in New York, Chicago & London. They specialize in strategy, design, content, media and technology for luxury beauty, fashion, hospitality and lifestyle brands. 

The company was founded by sibling duo— Aaron Edwards and Samantha Edwards in 2011. With almost identical views on brands, businesses, and the creative/digital landscape, they were inspired to create an agency with a difference. 

Strategy

Great work doesn’t just “happen," it’s born out of inspiration, trust, and collaboration. We’re renown for our readiness to explore; to break; to experiment and then put it all back together. Doing this sets the bar for a direction that is blindingly crystal clear and most importantly, applicable to you.

Starting with data and moving through to insights, our strategy work is laser focused on connecting audiences with creative that really resonates.

Services

Content

Content is king and our attention to the micro details in strategy, planning, pre and post production, ensure that our clients products and services shine bright like a diamond.

Services

Design

From digital platforms to branded experiences we have an understanding of cool and an insatiable appetite for all things pop culture.

With a multidisciplinary skillset across our in house design team, we have the ability to tackle design projects ranging from logo design to social content to full rebrands and enterprise websites.

Services

Technology

With a robust skillset across our in-house development team, we understand that the demand for exceptional creative solutions expands beyond design aesthetics. Pixel perfection and functionality are core to our development ethos.

Services

Media

We are a Full-service media buying agency with core expertise in the strategic planning and placement of traditional and digital media programs for a variety of luxury, lifestyle and hospitality brands. We are a outcome focused agency that uses proprietary systems and methods to help brands improve performance, drive efficiency and most importantly create demand for our brand partners.

Services

E-Commerce

Conversion and sales are the holy grails of metrics but so too is that grin you make when a checkout process is smoother than butter. Putting users first is our sole priority in building successful e-commerce platforms and with a platform-agnostic approach, there aren't many systems we haven't touched.

Services

AIGA Event Series: INSIDE
“My sister and I always wanted to work together but never knew how that would come about. She being a creative person, me being a business person."

Portrait of a Girlboss
How Creative Director Samantha Edwards is Creating a Rebellion Via Sincerity

Family First Initiative
As leaders, we strive to cultivate a culture of acceptance and create a work environment that supports the individual needs of all of our valued team members.  But as parents, we understand the importance of supporting our employees in their parental responsibilities.

The Business Of Fashion
The Charles CEO shares the latest insights on streaming platform ads for fashion with BoF

Featured Work & Clients

Mackage
 The Charles NYC was brought in as media agency of record to enhance their entire media strategy, brand positioning and performance marketing. 

Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy Traveler engaged The Charles NYC to create a series of interactive articles designed to illustrate local culture and more responsible, regenerative ways of traveling.

CHICO’s
The Charles NYC is proud to be a creative and strategic partner with CHICO’s and to take their brand to the next level across organic social and paid media channels.

Kjaer Weis
The Charles partnered with Organic beauty brand, Kjaer Weis, to establish product launch art direction and maximize production output.

Russell Athletic
Russell Athletic tasked The Charles to produce their Fall 2023 lifestyle photoshoot that appeals to a wider group of consumers.

Hard Rock Hotels
Hard Rock Hotels collaborated with The Charles to develop a new creative direction and to execute paid media.

Roc Nation
The Charles partnered with Roc Nation to redesign their website to showcase their 360 degree service offerings and stellar talent roster.

HP
The Charles is proud to partner with Z by HP to take their brand cachet to the next level across social and owned channels.

St-Germain
“From consumer journey to content mapping and skinning their Shopify, we launched La Boutique St-Germain in record time,” says Associate Design Director Vanessa Khoury. 

Testimonials

David Lennon
SVP Creative Director - Fortune Magazine

Some of my best work has be created in conjunction with the talented and dedicated team at The Charles. 

For many years they were our best kept secret and I am happy to see Aaron and Sam continue to grow their business by treating clients and employees the right way and enabling the magic to happen when the opportunity is right. 

I hardly ever write recommendations out for companies I work with but in the case of a chosen few I will make an exception. The Charles have had an exceptional effect on my career in New York and they will always be first in my mind when I am looking for excellence in creativity, design, delivery and service.

Sarah Dale
Former SVP Head of Studio - WSJ Custom Studios

I worked with many creative shops running the studio at WSJ, but none compared to The Charles. 

They became true partners to us, creating some of the most spectacular designs -- always on time, always exceeding expectations and always smiling. A very rare combination. 

[I knew they would never let me down and anything we worked with them on would wow our clients beyond their expectations. And they came through on that time and time again. Aaron and Sam are both delights to work with on top of it all. I hope we get to do it again someday. 

Zazie Pence
Former SVP Global Advertising Director - Bloomberg

I was introduced to The Charles (and founders Aaron and Samantha) at a moment when I was seeking to re-invent and accelerate a powerful, established brand that had yet to find its digital footing. 

I was immediately impressed by the agency’s ability to grasp (not discard!) the key tenets of the brand and use them as the underpinning of creative ideas which could push the organization forward into its digital future. Their concepts were nothing short of brilliant, progressive and sophisticated—hitting just the right cultural note. Perhaps even more important was the attitude they brought to the project and our creative relationship. 

It was one of curiosity, nimbleness, speed, and empathy. It is a rare thing in my experience to find this pairing of talent and attitude. Needless to say, I have hired them many times since.

Why KSV and The Charles?

King Street Ventures "KSV" is an innovation consultancy based in San Francisco that advises Chief Marketing Officers at Fortune 500 companies. We bring the hottest startups in digital marketing, advertising, and customer experience to our clients.

The Charles is a boutique, full-service agency for fashion, luxury, and lifestyle brands. KSV selected The Charles for its iconic work with well known brands, media strategy and performance, strong work culture, and company values.