Summer is fast approaching, and Lafayette 148 Creative Director Emily Smith has been busy ensuring that fans of the brand have what they need for the season. Not only has she been at work on the latest Spring-Summer 2022 collection, but also launched a swimwear collection, L148 Swim. And just earlier this month, she introduced the collection with the help of Stefano Tonchi via a two-day limited engagement pop up shop at The Colony in Palm Beach, Florida. Drawing out an impressive crowd – including Claire Holt, Katie Sturino, Micaela Erlanger, and more – Smith has also collaborated with creatives like Audra Weaser and Kelly Harridge for the occasion.

We caught up with the designer to hear more about her recent work and upcoming plans.

Hi Emily, tell me about the Spring-Summer 2022 L148 collection? What was the inspiration? Describe some of the key looks?

This collection started with research on makers and builders with a strong emphasis on workwear uniforms. Our brand started as a production factory for many top brands in New York during the 1990s and digging deeper into the appreciation of the makers, the artisans and how they dressed proved to be inspiring research. We also dug closer to our new homebase, The Brooklyn Navy Yard, when we discovered that many welders who built the ships were women, especially during the war. Drawing inspiration from all of this, we reinterpreted these concepts using our signature luxe materials and adjusted proportions, taking raw denim used in classic workwear for a jacket and pant look. While a reconsideration of masculine workwear and dedication to craft, the collection is a continuation of our brand story through our ongoing study on sustainable practices and commitment to thoughtful and elevated construction and intelligent design.

What woman did you have in mind while designing the collection?
The accomplishing woman who values creativity and innovation met with sophisticated and considered craftsmanship. It was important for us to design elevated pieces that would complement her wardrobe and continue to add to the versatility of her dynamic lifestyle. With roots in SoHo and the brand’s proximity to the art world, it’s somewhat organic that the Lafayette woman has an entrepreneurial and creative spirit.

You staged a Palm Beach Pop Up in early May? What triggered the pop up? How did it go and what did you learn from the experience? Are you planning to open a full-time store in Palm Beach?

We’re excited to open a new boutique in Palm Beach Gardens this summer. The Colony, as a haven for Palm Beach’s creative set, was a natural setting for us to showcase the Spring-Summer collection and bring together an eclectic group of creatives respected for their influence in the community. There’s a strong link between New York and Palm Beach, a conversation that’s evolving through fashion, art and design and one that’s important to the DNA of the brand. Lafayette partners with and champions like-minded talented women, including artist Audra Weaser and her unique sensibility of an abstract nature paired with the luxe oasis of foliage Kelly Harridge imagined uniquely for the pop-up. I have great admiration for Stefano Tonchi and am honored to have co-hosted this moment with him.

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