“Every season is a new take on how outerwear is an integral element of outfitting. Eran and I constantly challenge ourselves to create better outerwear.” – Elisa Dahan

It’s no surprise that a major fashion outlet for winter coats would hail from Canada, but that’s not all fashion house Mackage is known for. The design duo has done more than just create bomber jackets and puffer coats for your winter bones. Instead, they’ve combined the practical with style to create coats and jackets your closet can only dream of.

View the Mackage FW 2015 collection here.

Outerwear Ready: Exclusive Interview with Design Duo, Mackage

Since 1999, designers Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan have been creating stand-out outerwear pieces for their brand Mackage. The brand has created widely popular pieces among celebrities like Madonna and Gwynenth Paltrow. Through their luxurious fabrics, such as soft leathers and furs, the two have made it easy to spend your hard earned money on a fancy down coat.

But it’s no surprise that style and design seem to come effortlessly to Eran and Elisa. Their chemistry is undeniable and must be due to the fact that the two met at the age of 12 while attending the same school. This chemistry certainly shows in their work, a sort of cohesion and shamelessness that seems to appear with each season. 

“We strongly believe in the balance between fashion and function. These attributes flow simultaneously through the design process.” – Eran Elfassy    

But what makes Mackage really stand out is their history and how it’s inspired their brand today. Their start as a leather company has helped them perfect the craft of form and function when it comes to more difficult materials. With vast experience in the field, they’ve been able to give jackets the technology it needs to face the harsh weather, while still looking cool.

“Mackage started out as a leather company and leather is the signature detailing on all of our designs. Our down outerwear has become a consumer favorite in the past few years. This season, we offer a two-way stretch in the puffer down which offers insulated heat and increases flexibility,” Eran told us. 

Their design process is inspired by something quite simple: travel.

“We are inspired by the environment we’re in, especially when Eran and I travel. We look at street style wherever we go, checking out each city’s unique sense of style,” Elisa said.

This reason also attributes to the diversity you can find in any Mackage collection. The inspiration isn’t static to one idea, but a mix of different styles. “We also love going through our archives and seeing how we can make something even better.”

While the brand may be based in Canada, this hasn’t stopped Americans from coveting a jacket or two. With a flagship store located in trendy SoHo, New York, Mackage has held up well against the competition. Fresh looks have aided them to stand out in a city that makes it difficult to be different. With stores like Diesel and Rag & Bone only a few blocks away, they’ve had to stay relevant. So Mackage’s August summer series will be featuring artist Bradley Theodore, a renowned street artist known for color and graffiti.

Elisa told us, “We noticed Bradley’s work back in 2013 when he painted his mural of Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Wintour in the Lower East Side. We wanted to collaborate with him to highlight and support creative talent that we respect and are passionate about.”

Eran and Elisa worked with Bradley to transform the SoHo space into an art gallery you won’t see anywhere else in the city. 

Another collaboration with French powerhouse Paul and Joe is another way Eran and Elisa are expanding their design. The two helped designer Sophie Mechaly create practical, yet stylish pieces for her Fall 2015 collection, as she did the same for their Capsule Collection.

“We collaborated with Sophie Mechaly at Paul & Joe because of our shared nonchalant elegant aesthetic. We wanted to create a capsule collection that effortlessly blends technical detail and whimsical novelty into modern, refined winter staples. The Paul & Joe team was a pleasure to work with and we’re really excited for the 3 new styles this season,” Eran told us.

As the interview came to a close we found ourselves yearning for colder weather to shop some amazing fall jackets. Eran told us his favorite upcoming look was their “lightweight down because it’s easy to wear and pack.” While Elisa is making a cause for the puffer. “Puffer downs are definitely trending and a necessity since winters are getting worse each year. I’m also really excited to wear our double-face wool. It’s an amazing transitional piece because it’s light-weight and effortlessly elevates any outfit.”

So whether it’s classic or rocker, or even hippie that you’re trying to channel this F/W season, we’re sure you’ll find something that will meet your needs at Mackage.