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Our Co-Founder, Miyako, Looked to Her Heritage to Design Her Dream Knits
What makes our new knits—interweave, silk jersey, and fine terry—so special.
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One of the many things that makes M.M.’s Chief Creative Officer, Miyako, so brilliant is her ability to take something simple and turn it into something extraordinary. She wears M.M. in ways most of us never would have thought of: oversized, perfectly cuffed, and layered as intentionally as a delicate tiramisu. And it always looks so purposeful and beautiful. It’s this wizardry that has made so many M.M. classics—from the Foster pants to jardigans—as special as they are: She knows that the little details make all the difference.
So many of the bold pieces in our spring 2021 collection, Mentally, I’m Here, perfectly encapsulate Miyako’s exceptional sense of style, but upon closer inspection, it’s the knits especially that have her name all over them. Our new knit fabrications—interweave, silk jersey, and fine terry—were all sourced directly from her native Japan, and each has its own unique qualities to fall in love with.
Interweave
We’re calling the Lilia and Porter jackets “Future Vintage,” because they’re investment pieces you will want to hang onto and pass down to a daughter, niece, or cool younger friend. The artfully crafted interweave knit, developed directly with the Yonetomi factory in Japan—where the manufacturers spent six months perfecting the stitch patterns to Miyako’s specifications—was inspired by the artist Anni Albers. “I had just seen an exhibition of Albers’s work at a gallery in Chelsea, and it was quite shocking to see the weaves—how geometric and orderly they were, while at the same time sort of broken into an organic rhythm and pattern,” says Miyako. “It was inspiring the way her artwork and the pieces we were working on beautifully connected with each other.”
The interweave jackets are full of the kind of thoughtful and delightful details M.M. experts will notice right away: stretchy, wrinkle-resistant knit; decorative fringe and buttons; and of course, deep pockets for your phone (or snacks).
And while these jackets would look beautiful over a dress or with a pair of tailored slacks, Miyako really wants to see them paired with jeans. “I want to encourage people to dress them down, instead of up.” Challenge accepted.
Silk Jersey
Like our Brand Manager, Maddie, I have always associated silk with two things: sophistication and dry cleaning. And working from home with a 1-year-old, neither of those things are a part of my life. But when I saw our new 100% silk jersey pieces, I was immediately smitten. And when I found out they’re machine-washable? It was an immediate add-to-cart for me. That’s right: the 90-year-old Japanese mill that developed these knits helped pioneer the development of machine-washable silk, creating garments that are easy to care for while feeling impossibly, buttery soft on the skin.
The styles are also to die for. The Dae top is a playful off-the-shoulder number that will work for Zoom dates now, and actual in-person dates later this summer (can’t wait). We also picked this top as one of our favorite “revenge” looks, because hello, I’m intimidated (in a good way) just looking at it. The Leo pullover is our other silk jersey offering. It’s a sporty top that you can layer under or over other pieces, and it looks just as good with jeans as it does with a pencil skirt. I’m going to wear mine over a bathing suit this summer.
Fine Terry
And because perfecting a cashmere sweatsuit wasn’t enough, Miyako had to update a terry sweatsuit, too. Our fine terry is specially crafted on a vintage loom in Japan using a process that gives it a more elevated finish than traditional terry.
Our fine terry pieces are full of details that make them quintessentially M.M. The Harris sweatshirt puts a spin on your average sweats with a chic funnel neck. and And the Georgina loungers are secret sweatpants that look like tailored pants and have an adjustable hem. Together, they make a set that looks polished and intentional, but also just really cool.
In other words, it’s so Miyako.
Written By
Caitlin Abber
Caitlin Abber is the Brand Editor at M.M. LaFleur, and an award-winning writer and content creator. Over the last decade she has held senior editorial positions at MTV, Women's Health, Public Radio International, and Bustle, and has bylines at InStyle and OprahMag.com.
See more of Caitlin's articles
