Designer Interview: Micaela Ezra

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A few weeks back, I received the Fall 2010 lookbooks for three lines of clothing I was previously unfamiliar with: Sine, Laila, and Parameter. I tore through the lookbooks, quickly familiarized myself with the amazing summer collections on the accompanying website, and mentally stuffed a shopping bag with their sale and clearance items. By some twist of fate, I scored an interview with the designer, an adorable Aussie named Micaela Ezra, and got to view the collections up close and personal in their Manhattan office.

Four years ago, Micaela Ezra moved to New York from Australia, where she designed for a while after graduating from school. She showed at Fashion Week there before deciding to pack up her samples and head to the Big Apple. Knocking on doors looking for work, Micaela came across designer Cynthia Steffe, where she worked for three years. At a party one evening, she met her current business partner and creative director Maytal Sharifi. Together they’ve set out to provide stylish young things with the proper pieces to wear for day and night (or day into night, with the right accessories).

Creative Director Maytal Sharifi (left) and Designer Micaela Ezra

Sine, the main line Micaela designs, is aimed at a contemporary demographic, and comprised of silk dresses, separates, and easy pieces. “It’s a lot of wear-to-work/wear-out, with the focus on any girl like us, and what we would need on a day-to-day basis,” she explains. Laila is the secondary line of effortless evening wear, which Micaela describes as “the spirit of Sine put into evening dresses – cocktail pieces and gowns.” About a year ago, Parameter emerged as a diffusion line for Sine: same spirit, at a more appealing price point. Parameter is made up of slightly more casual, easy, comfortable pieces, often translating as lots of jersey separates.

You sense a strong emotional attachment to the collections in speaking with Micaela Ezra. Coming from a textiles background, she finds it very important to incorporate special detailing and exciting prints. “We have a responsibility to our consumer,” she says. “I want to give her something that’s going to make her really happy and feel really wonderful. I want her to put the garment on and feel a million dollars, go out into the world in the best frame of mind possible, and spread love and goodness and happiness because she feels great in her clothes. And in that sense, we’ve given her a bit of a gift.” She goes on to explain how her design process starts: “I’m very inspired by music and art, anything that stirs me emotionally. Specifically color and print. I really start with fabric. I’ll start fabric-sourcing for the season, and usually I’ll see a print or a color, and my blood rushes a bit. I light up, and I know ‘that’s it!’ A map grows from there. The fabric has to tell you what it wants to be. You can’t make chiffon try to be a suit material.”

A sampling of the new Eden jewelry line

For Fall 2010, there were three different stories inspiring the collections. The Crystallized collection was inspired by a patterned silk Micaela came across which reminded her of sedimentary rock and layers of minerals. From there, she drew on rose quartz and amethyst and other crystals, coming up with a palette of muted jewel-tones, textured faux-leathers, raw finishes, and organic forms. The Black Ballerina collection was inspired by the paintings of Degas. Micaela told me the ballerina he depicted seems so free on stage, but led a fairly captive lifestyle because she was always subject to the man who paid her ballet school tuition. This gave way to dusty colors, chain detailing, military-esque epaulets and gold buttons, and a VERY important item for fall, the jean legging, done in a washed grey tone. Venetian Gypsy was the final inspiration, with a bohemian spirit. I wanted to wear the glorious faux-Persian lamb jacket home, along with the gold brocade dress and all of the embellishment. Fall also marks the soft launch of a new line of corresponding accessories, called Eden, which creative director Maytal Sharifi has designed. Maytal was inspired by Micaela’s clothes, and tried to mix something a little bit rough with something really pretty. Her results are a knockout.  I had to try not to bolt out the door with the tray of crystal necklaces, chunky gemstone rings, and beautiful bracelets and cuffs.  I’m expecting big things in the future from these girls!

You can shop for Sine, Parameter, and Laila, and several pieces of the new Eden collection at www.shopsineny.com. For a limited time, enter our exclusive promo code, BSC20, at checkout to save 20% on your purchase!