Stand Out in Limited-edition Embroidery

July 02, 2016

Looking for something a little more special than your everyday staples? Want to be “that woman over there, in the really cool shirt”? Then MM’s new, limited-edition embroidered pieces—the cake-topper on our 5 O’Clock Somewhere collection—are for you. Hand-crafted with silk thread, each of these three items (the Kahlo top, the Monique dress, and the Lagarde shirt) features a floral design around the neckline; think of it as a built-in statement necklace, or a scarf you don’t have to tie. Yes, these pieces are more decadent than our standard work staples—but why not go out on a limb every once a while?

Below, a primer on our new showstoppers.

The Monique dress in lilac.

Why embroidery?

MM.LaFleur’s creative director, Miyako Nakamura, has always loved threadwork—so much that when she created a wedding dress for a close friend a few years ago, she did a deep dive into the medium. “I love that embroidery has such a rich history, and adds texture and dimension to clothing in a way that nothing else can,” she explains. During her research, she met designer Arushi Kumar, whose technical knowledge impressed Miyako so much that—well, long story short, Arushi works at MM now. (And yes, the wedding dress turned out beautifully.)

The Monique dress‘s hand-embroidered neckline.

How do these pieces fit in with the rest of the MM.LaFleur collection?

“Most of our clothes are very streamlined, but I think our customer might want one or two pieces with a decorative, dressed-up touch,” says Miyako. “Embroidery is perfect because it adds an artistic element, almost like an accessory, but we’re adding it to pieces that people already love, so it still lives within the spectrum of our basics. You could wear the Monique dress to a wedding, or pair one of the tops with pants or a skirt for an office party or other special occasion.”

Shoulder detail on the Lagarde shirt.

How were these pieces made?

After testing various options, Arushi found a manufacturer in Mumbai, India, that has specialized in hand-embroidered pieces for over 50 years. (For context: They’ve worked with fashion houses like Dior and Alaïa, and helped create the elaborate costumes in The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge.) “They are far and away the best,” says Miyako. “Their workers are highly trained, and the results were better than anything else we tried.”

An artisan works on the embroidery for the Monique dress.

Using standard techniques (a combination of satin stitch, chain stitch, and French knots), each item took between 16-18 hours to complete. The embroidered sections were then sent to our factories in New York’s Garment District, where they were cut and assembled by our usual experts.

Each Kahlo top took 17 hours and two craftsmen to embroider.

What inspired the floral design?

As a longtime admirer of photographer Nick Knight, Miyako based her early illustrations on Knight’s photographs of flora.

An embroidery sketch for the Lagarde shirt.

“His photographs have a free-spirited feeling that I love,” says Miyako. “It’s especially visible on the Kahlo top, which features a few subtle loose threads that look both playful and luxurious.”