Photograph by Aimee Herring
New York-based designer Monica Patel creates easy, elegant caftans from saris that are hand-loomed in India. “I love working with hand-spun, handmade fabrics where artisans can be appreciated for the work they’ve been doing for centuries,” she says, “and being able to repurpose them into something wearable without having to waste any of the workmanship.” Patel, the mother of two children under four, has a high-fashion pedigree—she’s worked for Barneys and Prada—but now balances work with family in her Brooklyn studio, where she designs and creates unique, hand-woven lifestyle pieces, and works with weavers in India who are trying to keep the art of the hand-loomed sari alive. “I have loved the patterns and colors since I was a child,” she says. “I love great fabrics and ultimately want to combine culture with a stylish ease and comfort.” The caftans are available in a wide-ranging palette, and they are perfect for a spa getaway, a resort vacation or for lounging around the house in style. twonewyork.com
—Rona Berg