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Certain things are a given in an A Détacher collection. You will see things you have never seen before. You will, if you are paying close attention, and you should be, see construction and detailing you have never seen before. And you will likely be temporarily removed from your seat and taken to wherever designer Mona Kowalska’s mind happened to be when she created the collection.
story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Stephen Bodi
Certain things are a given in an A Détacher collection. You will see things you have never seen before. You will, if you are paying close attention, and you should be, see construction and detailing you have never seen before. And you will likely be temporarily removed from your seat and taken to wherever designer Mona Kowalska’s mind happened to be when she created the collection. Continue reading “A Détacher – Mona’s Map of The World”
A Détacher designer Mona Kowalska has a reputation for pushing to the edges of fashion. Before coming to the United States and starting her own line, Kowalska designed for many small Italian labels, followed by a brief stint at Sonia Rykiel. Her work could be considered avant garde by commercial standards. The spring 2013 collection for A Détacher is both architecturally de-constructed and well-engineered.
story by Sia-Alika Battle
photos by Adrianna Favero
A Détacher designer Mona Kowalska has a reputation for pushing to the edges of fashion. Before coming to the United States and starting her own line, Kowalska designed for many small Italian labels, followed by a brief stint at Sonia Rykiel. Her work could be considered avant garde by commercial standards. The spring 2013 collection for A Détacher is both architecturally de-constructed and well-engineered. Continue reading “A Détacher – Forget Me Knot”
Mona Kowalska is not one of those fashion designers who sit in studios drawing pretty things to be sent out to distant places to be born. Not only does she make all of her patterns, but her small and efficient team of three takes care of all other aspects of the brand, including sales and press. Her atelier is located behind the Nolita store’s glitter-clad back wall, so that she may personally greet any customer who walks through the door. One even has to ring a bell to enter, a sign that one is not simply entering a store but rather a special place. Kowalska’s space, however, is unlike any other in that it is first and foremost personal. A common scene to be found in the store consists of a joyful customer walking in to pick up a custom-wrapped garment and a hug from the designer before strutting back out into the streets of Manhattan.
story written by Chloe Bensahel
photography by Ned and Aya Rosen
styling by Michael Tucker
hair by Agata
makeup by Sokphalla
model is Melinda from One Model Management
Mona Kowalska is not one of those fashion designers who sit in studios drawing pretty things to be sent out to distant places to be born. Not only does she make all of her patterns, but her small and efficient team of three takes care of all other aspects of the brand, including sales and press. Her atelier is located behind the Nolita store’s glitter-clad back wall, so that she may personally greet any customer who walks through the door. One even has to ring a bell to enter, a sign that one is not simply entering a store but rather a special place. Kowalska’s space, however, is unlike any other in that it is first and foremost personal. A common scene to be found in the store consists of a joyful customer walking in to pick up a custom-wrapped garment and a hug from the designer before strutting back out into the streets of Manhattan.
A Détacher’s distinguished lady is taking a trip to Japan. She took her knitted high-waist pants with her from last season, but this time paired them with more structured boxy cuts. Kimono shapes populated the upper half of the body as bellowing sleeves began past the shoulder. Oversize Peter Pan collars were also on the menu, paired with oversized knitwear for comfort. Other neck details included futuristic thick corded necklines, worn with veteran designer Mona Kowalska’s signature touch of knitwear, here knitted skirts which even the most conservative of us women long for in the depths of winter.
view the full collection in our Photo Gallery
story by Chloe Bensahel
photos by Ned and Aya Rosen
web editor Rachel Reneé
A Détacher’s distinguished lady is taking a trip to Japan. She took her knitted high-waist pants with her from last season, but this time paired them with more structured boxy cuts. Kimono shapes populated the upper half of the body as bellowing sleeves began past the shoulder. Oversize Peter Pan collars were also on the menu, paired with oversized knitwear for comfort. Other neck details included futuristic thick corded necklines, worn with veteran designer Mona Kowalska’s signature touch of knitwear, here knitted skirts which even the most conservative of us women long for in the depths of winter. Continue reading “A Détacher – Fall 2012 – Confidence Structures”
Is there nothing more cozy than what is in grandma’s closet? This season A Detacher designer Mona Kowalska dug into one and pulled out pieces that are habitual and homey, and found nothing too old fashioned.
story by Dana Varon
photos by Ned & Aya Rosen
Is there nothing more cozy than what is in grandma’s closet? This season A Détacher designer Mona Kowalska dug into one and pulled out pieces that are habitual and homey, and found nothing too old fashioned. Continue reading “A Détacher – Spring 2012 Review – Reinventing Grandma’s Closet”
story by Aya Rosen
photos by Ned and Aya Rosen
The name A’Detacher means to be detached, or to detach things from one another. It fits perfectly with Mona Kowalska’s style, which every season manages to be very true to what she chooses to express rather than the current trends or any seasonal style. However, this year, many of A’Detacher’s signature motifs seem to be almost trendy– big shoulders, buggy pants, high waist lines, and color blocks which the designer has been including in her garments for years, these things were pretty high up in other shows, some of the very major labels. Continue reading “A’Detacher – Fall 2011”
It takes a defiant artist to embrace unbalanced and neurotic as a specific concept for inspiration. Mona Kowalska is not only defiant but exceptionally talented. It is the combination of her vision and he skills that makes A Détacher one of the best labels in New York City.
story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Ned & Aya Rosen
It takes a defiant artist to embrace unbalanced and neurotic as a specific concept for inspiration. Mona Kowalska is not only defiant but exceptionally talented. It is the combination of her vision and skills that makes A Détacher one of the best labels in New York City. Her Spring 2011 collection was unique in its prints and fabrics, striking in its shapes and cuts, and most importantly bold in it’s presentation of the beauty of being slightly off. Continue reading “A Détacher – Spring 2011 – New York”
The highlight of the show was the designer’s ability to turn underwear as outerwear, as models powered down the runway in navy and cream slip dresses with chunky scarves, or sheer crocheted sweaters paired with pink silk georgette boxer shorts.
story by Alexandra Dawes
photos by Sandy Ramirez
photo editing by Alexandra Dawes
A Detacher’s designer Mona Kowalska sent down a romantic representation of Fall 2010 country life for New York Fashion Week.
What would happen if we attempted to not define art? What if we simply were with it, reacted to it, and discussed it? To describe and to resist the compulsion to define is a rather challenging concept for many. I suspect that the prospect scares the hell out of the fashion industry. Mona Kowalska of the label A Détacher is a great example of what happens when you embrace that concept in all facets of your business.
story by Seth Friedermann
atelier photos by Adrianna Favero
atelier hair and makeup by Chris Lanston
atelier model Holly from Fenton Moon
runway photos by Sandy Ramirez
“The highest form is no form, the highest art is no art.” — Bruce Lee
What would happen if we attempted to not define art? What if we simply were with it, reacted to it, and discussed it? To describe and to resist the compulsion to define is a rather challenging concept for many. I suspect that the prospect scares the hell out of the fashion industry. Mona Kowalska of the label A Détacher is a great example of what happens when you embrace that concept in all facets of your business. From her designs to her boutique Mona has fashioned a label that is focused on each design as an entity on to itself. This has made her a hit with her clientele but not as much with most press or buyers, until very recently. There in lies a very good lesson, Mona has run a successful boutique and label through good times and bad for 12 years without much press or industry support. Continue reading “A Détacher – Designer Dossier”
