London-based designer Mira Mikati hosted her Fall 2019 presentation in an unfinished site across to the Eiffel Tower. Colorful spray paint was spread everywhere; emoji motifs and humorous sentences adorned the walls. Whitewall sat down with the designer to learn more about “Mira Land” and her personal style.
WHITEWALL: What is the concept of your label?
MIRA MIKATI: The brand launched four summers ago. My vision is to be effortless and not take life seriously. I want to brighten up people’s mood on rainy days and I want my pieces to be remembered in a wardrobe as joyful and colorful. Also, the brand is for everyone.
WW: How would you describe the Mira Mikati woman?
MM: She just never gets old. She listens to her inner child and dreams. She likes to feel free, have fun and is very bubbly.
WW: Which accessories best represent your personal style?
MM: My bracelets. I have many, and apart from four, I sleep and do everything with them on. I feel absolutely naked when I have to remove them.
WW: Do you have a must-have in your new collection?
MM: The starting point of the collection. It is like a bathrobe but for the day—a blue-and-white checkered coat with a scarf buttoned to the coat that you can remove, if you wish. The scarf is hand painted and embroidered.
WW: Tell us a bit about why you love mixing art and fashion.
MM: It is a way to make art more accessible. And I like the idea of mixing the world of two different types of people from two different backgrounds. I also worked in collaboration with artists like with MR, KAWS, and Jack Pierson.
WW: Where do you gain the most inspiration?
MM: Inspiration comes to me through art and my travels. I wish my next travel to be in Hokkaido, Japan. I am also inspired by my children, who keep me young in my head with all their stories.
WW: Have you been to an exhibition recently that you’re still thinking about?
MM: An exhibition that I really loved recently was at Galerie Perrotin with MR. I find his imagination about Tokyo completely crazy. He succeeds because when we look at his art, it makes us happy. But really, from behind, the artist is escaping from his difficult childhood and negative views toward Japan.
WW: Do you have any daily well-being rituals?
MM: I start my day with a matcha, and in the evening after a long day at the studio, I have my sobatcha—a natural tea for sarazin. It relaxes me and it signifies that my day is over, and I can finally rest.
