CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Nili Lotan; Lotan's desk; Lotan’s store has glass panels in the floor, giving shoppers a unique view into her bustling design studio below; Necklace and Bag by Nili Lotan; Motorcycle jacket by Nili Lotan; Dress by Nili Lotan; Dress in May 1968 print by Nili Lotan.
GOTHAM: Where are you originally from?
NILI LOTAN: I was born in Tel Aviv, a firstgeneration Israeli.
G: Does your Israeli heritage influence your work?
NL: Of course. Having spent half my life in Israel, the scenes, elements, and people I have met and will meet affect me and, in turn, affect my designs.
G: What inspires your designs?
NL: I’m inspired by everything I experience— what I read, see, feel, and think. My designs are influenced by my children, my friends, places I’ve been, and events in my life. I’m excited by the beauty I find in life, and it makes its way into what I design.
G: Describe the woman you’re designing for.
NL: I design for a woman who’s ageless, who belongs to no specific group or profession. She does not need a designer to tell her what to wear. She’s self-assured and uses the elements I provide to create her own style. I enjoy seeing how different women wear pieces I design.
G: What are your favorites from your spring collection?
NL: For spring I have two favorites: The Leonard Dress in the May 1968 print—I love the image and what it stands for, and the dress for its simplicity. And the North Moore dress is my personal favorite. I love wearing it—I feel sexy and feminine, like I’m wearing nothing, and yet, I am.
G: What do you love about New York City?
NL: I love this city first for its architecture and aesthetic. New York City has endless resources and inspirations that are always readily available. I am constantly enriched by its vibrancy and culture.
Nili Lotan, 188 Duane Street, 212-431-7788.
