Luly Yang Launches Luleisure
3 min read | Fashion | A.M.
As 2021 winds down, the world still wrestles with the desire for elevated attire and experiences whilst investing heavily in comfortwear as the new work-at-home workplace standard. The trend is certainly nothing new, and all the more symbolizes the state of the world in this present moment. Large companies still lease less occupied buildings whilst far fewer members of the online gig economy design corporate logos in their bespoke attire (we won’t tell if you don’t).
Enter Luly Yang into the conversation with a stylish addition to their prêt-à-porter debut collection called Luleisure. The collection features an assortment of essentials, outerwear and accessories—many of which join the international movement toward genderless fashion as we can clearly see with the Urban Mixed Media Parka and Quilted Leather Jacket to name but a few examples.
In keeping with a slow fashion philosophy, the key word for the collection is transitional, with most garments intended for transeasonal use. From their website:
"Luleisure features stylish transitional pieces that can be layered up or down to carry you from brunch to boardroom, winter to summer, and home to adventure."
Everything from the deep, earthy tones to the geometric silhouettes, sleek architectural lines, and quilted puffer callbacks feel at home for anyone living and working in the city whilst adventuring on weekends.
Overall, this serves as a refreshing addition to a fashion house most known for their bespoke gowns and corporate attire. We can clearly see influences from Luly Yang's previous work with Alaska Airlines and Amazon with the Pathway Ribbed Mock Neck Sweater and At Ease Hoodie. But this is more telling of the overall creative direction of their ready-to-wear line as the company invests toward long-term wearability over ephemeral trends.
Several garments and accessories serve dual purposes in an attempt to further promote functionality—as we can see in the Signature Monarch Puffer Scarf which doubles as a pillow for the road-weary traveler. In fact, travel, durability and portability appear to be key themes for the Luleisure collection which is heavily influenced by their corporate design philosophy.
On the topic of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, Luly Yang made a point to mention their business philosophy in an interview with Seattle Refined:
"Part of maintaining our company's brand ethos of elevating the human experience is designing with purpose and respecting humanity through social responsibility and environmental sustainability [...] and as a company, we believe in making things that have a longer lifespan [...] both in style and quality."
Zoom Bonded Knit Jacket - $474
Goose Down Puffer Scarf - $165
Pathway Ribbed Mock Neck - $195
Cloud Goose Down Puffer Jacket - $578
Pathway Ribbed Sweater Dress - $380
Shearling Bomber Jacket - $1,295
Urban Mixed Media Parka - $1,375
Switch Reversible Suede Jacket - $925
Quilted Leather Jacket - $1,150
It's worth mentioning that most garments in the Luleisure collection feature an assortment of textiles including goose down, neoprene, leather, polyester, spandex and rayon which do not specify their origin, nor are they easily recyclable, so we're left to believe that most if not all textiles are virgin at the very least. However, this is offset by a small batch run with pre-sales augmenting the traditional production cycle, which aligns with their stated goals of producing long-lasting garments intended for many seasons of use.
To be clear, this isn't a bad thing. Balance is an important step forward as we endeavor to move a colossal industry in a new direction. But for those who value sustainability and environmental responsibility in their purchasing decisions, and since Luly Yang have clearly stated a commitment to the environment and sustainability specifically, it's worth noting.
Several items from the Luleisure collection are available now via website and showroom. However, many will not be available until January at the earliest, with some items listed as available within 2-3 months at the time of writing. Though regardless of lead times, and considering our weather, it's quite likely one will be delighted to benefit from one of the many outerwear selections in the collection to stave off our unpredictable and occasionally adversarial climate year round. And who doesn’t love stretch leather pants? Seriously, they’re amazing.
In all, this is an exciting move from one of our region's most established and honored fashion designers. Prêt-à-porter is an incredibly competitive segment with no shortage of brands vying for consumer attention. But with a successful track record in an economy of scale, and a commitment to sustainability and circular fashion, the house of Luly Yang may very well be poised to become a local leader in this market segment.