Last week I met the designer of my new favorite bag line at my new favorite juice spot. Over watermelon coolers (seasoned with lavender!) at The Butcher's Daughter on the LES, Sarah Law, the creator of New York-based label KARA, chatted to me about her recent trip to Marfa, Texas and finding the perfect zipper. Sarah's bags, new arrivals at OC, come in two styles for fall: a mini messenger and an OC-exclusive rectangular backpack. Available in pebbled black leather or fuzzy shearling, they tick the boxes for both functionality and want-it-now cute. "It's important that my bags have a sense of humor!" says Sarah.
Shop all KARA here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: What's the story behind the name KARA?
Sarah Law: It comes from the Japanese word karaoke. When I was starting the line I had dinner with a family friend who is a former Harvard professor for Korean and Japanese studies. He asked me what I like to do in my free time and I said, "Karaoke!" So he explained what the word means: kara means empty or open and oke is an abbreviation of orchestra. So it means empty orchestra. When you do karaoke it's a bit of a joke, but the meaning of the name is so epic!
What are your favorite karaoke songs?
Too many to choose from, but of course Mariah Carey, and then oldies like Elvis and Johnny Cash!
What were you thinking about when you sat down to design the fall collection?
My brother lived in Maui for a long time. He's obsessed with Hawaii, and he surfs a lot, so I thought about his trip. The idea was "9-5 Hawaii." I was working a lot, and I kept wanting to go on vacation, so the collection was inspired by the feeling of wanting to get away from the office.
What do you want from a bag in terms of practicality?
I really like little bags but I also want them to be functional. Being in the city you have to walk a lot. You're on the subway, traveling, going to the gym. Those are the kind of things I think about—how does the bag fit into my real life?
Do you enjoy seeing how people wear you designs?
Yes! Yesterday I was walking down the street and I saw a woman holding a bag that I designed during the first year I worked at Gap! It was so weird because it was a flannel bag, and the heat outside was so intense. I'd actually designed the bag for Christmas, but it makes you realize that people carry your designs all the time!
Did you always know you were going to do something design-related?
I've always been interested in creating things. In school I got really excited about projects. I have memories of actually skipping school to work on them. The first all-nighter I pulled was in 7th grade!
What are your plans for KARA in the future?
I'm starting to develop shoes. It will take about a year to develop the first collection, and then I'd love to start doing clothing.
Finally, can you tell us about the Resort 2014 bags coming in October?
They're based on my trip to Marfa. I created a stucco-textured calf hair and a double-layered rubberized material. The stucco calf hair is white but the hair is funny and short. I love the idea of taking natural things but using them in a really poppy way. The Stowaway is also getting a bigger sister, and there'll be a baby version of the backpack!
Shop all KARA here.
Shop all KARA here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: What's the story behind the name KARA?
Sarah Law: It comes from the Japanese word karaoke. When I was starting the line I had dinner with a family friend who is a former Harvard professor for Korean and Japanese studies. He asked me what I like to do in my free time and I said, "Karaoke!" So he explained what the word means: kara means empty or open and oke is an abbreviation of orchestra. So it means empty orchestra. When you do karaoke it's a bit of a joke, but the meaning of the name is so epic!
What are your favorite karaoke songs?
Too many to choose from, but of course Mariah Carey, and then oldies like Elvis and Johnny Cash!
What were you thinking about when you sat down to design the fall collection?
My brother lived in Maui for a long time. He's obsessed with Hawaii, and he surfs a lot, so I thought about his trip. The idea was "9-5 Hawaii." I was working a lot, and I kept wanting to go on vacation, so the collection was inspired by the feeling of wanting to get away from the office.
What do you want from a bag in terms of practicality?
I really like little bags but I also want them to be functional. Being in the city you have to walk a lot. You're on the subway, traveling, going to the gym. Those are the kind of things I think about—how does the bag fit into my real life?
Do you enjoy seeing how people wear you designs?
Yes! Yesterday I was walking down the street and I saw a woman holding a bag that I designed during the first year I worked at Gap! It was so weird because it was a flannel bag, and the heat outside was so intense. I'd actually designed the bag for Christmas, but it makes you realize that people carry your designs all the time!
Did you always know you were going to do something design-related?
I've always been interested in creating things. In school I got really excited about projects. I have memories of actually skipping school to work on them. The first all-nighter I pulled was in 7th grade!
What are your plans for KARA in the future?
I'm starting to develop shoes. It will take about a year to develop the first collection, and then I'd love to start doing clothing.
Finally, can you tell us about the Resort 2014 bags coming in October?
They're based on my trip to Marfa. I created a stucco-textured calf hair and a double-layered rubberized material. The stucco calf hair is white but the hair is funny and short. I love the idea of taking natural things but using them in a really poppy way. The Stowaway is also getting a bigger sister, and there'll be a baby version of the backpack!
Shop all KARA here.