From a very young age, I’ve dreamed of having my own business. However, I had to place my dream on hold while my life took a detour in the beginning...

I started playing tennis at the age of 3 and by 8, I was traveling throughout the country playing tournaments. By the age of 11, I packed up, left my family and home in Rochester, NY and headed to Florida to practice tennis full time. After attending the renowned Nick Bollettieiri Tennis Academy, in Bradenton, Florida for 5 years, I attended The University of Arizona in Tucson to play collegiate tennis. After winning the NCAA Division I Doubles Title in 1993, I turned pro and traveled the world playing professional tournaments. Playing the Australian Open, French Open, and The US Open, among others, and meeting many great people and visiting many unique places and seeing many different cultures, I decided to settle down in Rochester again. That is where I met my husband, Murray, and married in 1997. In 1998 we moved from New York to California and finally settling in Chicago in 2003 where we had 2 children, Max 7 and Haley 4. After the birth of my daughter, Haley, I finally felt that it was the “right time” to pursue my childhood dream. Hence, Alixandra Collections was born in July 2004.

With the opening of Alixandra Blue in Western Springs in September 2006 and Hollis in Hinsdale in May 2007 my vision has continued to expand into new areas!