{
FASHION EYE
}
written by brook flagg
photographed by ty mecham
YOO LEE
& saja inc.
one year after moving her company headquarters from Los Angeles,
Saja inc. founder and designer Yoo Lee is settling into the rhythm of
New York life. The textured urban backdrop of Saja’s new home in
Manhattan’s Garment District has served as substantial inspiration for
her spring and summer collections. “In New York, no matter what, one
is forced to walk out on the street to get anywhere. It has opened my
eyes to a lot more things,” Lee says. Namely? “Having to buy rain boots
and winter coats in the first week of moving here, I’m forced to pay more
attention to season changes.”
Hence, the Saja 2008 Spring Collection features “a lot of weather and
moods. I started spring with raincoats, then waterproof outerwear, and
moved inwards.” Evidence of this inspiration is clear in several of Saja’s
spring pieces; the knits are sturdy enough to withstand the weather
without sacrificing femininity, and a gray-blue palette weaves through
the collection. Lee acknowledges, “The colors started muted for the
palettes, but got bolder as the sun got stronger as well.”
Enter the Saja 2008 Summer Collection, of which Lee says, “I wanted
it to be fun, so we let it loose with colors and prints—and more prints!” For
summer, when temperatures rise and we tend to let things shed a bit, Saja
offers us weather-appropriate options that exude a playful, unassuming
confidence. The classic summer dresses and separates allow their bold
hues and prints to do the talking; creating pieces like these is something
that Lee feels passionate about. “That is the basis of all my designs,”
she says. “I believe sexiness is within, and there is a lot to be said about
being demure.”
After years as a struggling designer on the Los Angeles contemporary
scene, later propelled into success at a Henri Bendel design casting
call, and then immersed in diligence and determination as she built her
company, Yoo Lee has established Saja inc. as a premiere source for
fresh, feminine apparel. Her goal for the company’s future is bold: “I wish
to expand our brand and take our collection to our maximum capacity. I
hope that by reaching this, I can apply what I learned both in LA and New
York.” Throughout each phase of her career, Lee has guided her work by
the fashion philosophy that “good taste outlasts any given trend.”
The Saja flagship boutique is located at 250 Elizabeth St., NY. Call
(212) 226-7570 or visit
sajainc.com for more information. Saja is also
available at Kitson in Los Angeles, Erin Ashley boutique in Laguna
Beach, and nationwide at Neiman Marcus.
ELIZA / 12 ELIZA / 13
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