Craig Arthur von Schroeder is an American entrepreneur, creative director, and brand builder whose career bridges law, craftsmanship, and luxury design. After graduating from Lafayette College (’01), Craig studied business at Georgetown University (’03) before earning his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law (’06), where he was a member of the Rutgers Law Journal and studied abroad in Cuba and South Africa. In between, he worked at El Centro Hispanoamericano as an immigration advocate and at the Urban Justice Center on behalf of underserved individuals. Following law school, he practiced as a litigation associate at Stradley Ronon and later at Cohen Seglias, building a foundation in precision, discipline, and advocacy that would later inform his approach to brand building and leadership.

In 2008, Craig founded Commonwealth Proper after growing frustrated with the ill-fitting shirts worn by his law colleagues—and himself. What began as a solution to a personal problem quickly evolved into a mission-driven American luxury brand. After refining ready-to-wear shirt patterns, he expanded into custom shirting and suiting, leaving the legal profession in March 2011 to open a 400-square-foot showroom on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. From that modest space, Commonwealth Proper grew into a nationally recognized bespoke menswear brand known for its “Forever Made in USA” ethos, with garments produced exclusively in the United States and showrooms across multiple cities.

In addition to leading Commonwealth Proper, Craig was appointed Creative Director of Vogel in 2024, the historic American boot and shoe company founded in 1879, where he is guiding the brand’s modern revival while honoring its equestrian and New York heritage. He also serves as a Mentor for the Macy’s Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, supporting emerging designers in building sustainable businesses, and has been invited to serve as a judge for senior collections at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Through these roles, Craig continues to champion American craftsmanship, mentorship, and the next generation of designers—combining heritage, culture, and disciplined entrepreneurship into brands built to endure.