Haute Scene NYC : 4 Questions With Mackage Co-Founders

Last week, Mackage teamed up with Bradley Theodore to present “The Underground Artist,” a curated exhibition.

Mackage’s August Soho Store Summer Series features renowned street artist, Theodore, who has curated an art collection at the Mackage Soho store in New York City. The brand’s co-creative directors and co-founders Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy collaborated with Bradley to transform the Soho space into a unique art gallery, complementing the arrival of the Fall/Winter 2015 collection.

The artists featured in the exhibition include Theodore, ByFlore, Jay West, LeRone Wilson, Humza Deas, Hassan Kinley and Ray Smith. The curated art mirrors Mackage’s signature balance of hard and soft elements. A range of sculptures, paintings, photography prints, and a large-scale projection give a glimpse into the powerful synergy between art and fashion. The Fall/Winter 2015 collection complimented the scenery with cool tones of ash, blue grey and off-white are mixed with pops of bordeaux, exuding the sky and earth’s color palette. Dahan and Elfassy have integrated volume into their minimalistic outerwear by exploring various lengths and forms.

Upon arrival, guests were greeted by Mackage employees and a glass of white wine. Event-goers had the opportunity to mix and mingle as well as snap photos with Dahan, Elfassy and Theodore. While on the scene, Haute Living had the chance to interview Dahan and Elfassy about their haute brand.

What inspired Mackage?
Dahan: We come from Canada where it’s really cold and we need to keep warm. That’s how it started. We’ve known each other since we were kids and we used to go out in tiny little jackets that didn’t cover our whole outfit. 

Elfassy: We wanted to look stylish but at the same time be comfortable and warm.

Dahan: You want to be able to put on your heels, wear a down coat and still feel confident in your look. We wanted the coat to be the fashion moment in your outfit.

Can you both share tips on how to work with your best friend?
Dahan: Our biggest strength is that we get over things easily. Sometimes, we’ll disagree and argue about things, but then we’ll head to lunch 5 minutes later and be fine. Our friendship is forever and we need to separate that from business.

Elfassy: Our beauty is that we have opposite strengths that complement and balances each other well.

Dahan: Find a friend that balances [you].

What are staple items men and women should have in their closet?
Elfassy: It depends on where you live. We’re based in Canada so a warm down jacket is an essential to have. Same with a leather jacket.

Dahan: Regardless of location, it always cools down at night and a leather jacket is a sleek way to add to your outfit. The leather jacket is a must-have season after season.

What gets your creative juices flowing?
Dahan: I think for me, it’s the need. We think about technical function, especially after 15 years of designing coats. We want to make sure we’re the go-to brand for your outerwear needs.

Elfassy: I agree. At the beginning, we only designed women’s outerwear. I was getting a bit jealous because Elisa had all these coats while I had to go on a search to find styles that suit my taste and needs. Now with our men’s line, I don’t have to look too far.

“The Underground Artist” exhibition will be on displayed and available for purchase at the store through Sept. 25^th.