Raised in Southern California and London, Catherine Holstein moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design. Her career began when the legendary buyer and champion of young designers Julie Gilhart picked up her junior thesis for Barneys New York. The eponymous womenswear line went on to sell at some 40 stores worldwide, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Kirna Zabête, Louis Boston, Lane Crawford, and Isetan, until Holstein closed her company to pursue a more collaborative approach. From 2009 to 2014, she gained experience working as a design director and consultant for brands such as Gap, Vera Wang, Maiyet, and The Elder Statesman.

Catherine Holstein has been a CFDA Member since 2019.