Fit and Flash: Ecubyan's New Line for Spring

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A few weeks ago, in a bright loft in Lincoln Heights, our fashion friends hosted an intimate West coast launch party for the peppy and young new fashion label, Ecubyan. With the champagne fountain alit and handmade hors d'oeuvres bouncing from plate to hand, Ecubyan's first collection reflected the buzzy party vibe for spring 2012 with an optimistic confection of bold prints done in soft jewel tones and gossamer silks.

Katie McKay and Diana Valhuerdi of Ecubyan are Brooklyn-based designers who studied in California and New York and come to the industry with extensive backgrounds in textiles, production, and painting. The prints are the most compelling elements of Ecubyan's designs, and are nestled into slim-fit stretch silk leggings (our favorite!), drapey beaded tops, and wrap dresses that are energetic, sometimes sleek, and always comfortable - just the right silhouettes for those who might prefer "a gymnastics class over yoga," as Katie describes. The designers do lots of research in library archives for their prints, and their new collection is loaded with animals and graphic shapes inspired by Egyptian symbology, '70s library murals, and Versace's chain prints from the '80s. If that seems too bold, rest assured the color palette (like pale quartz and dusty violet) subdues the wild patterns in just the right way. While Ecubyan's lookbook piles print on top of print - which we love - the separates are also completely wearable with colorblock sweaters and under blazers from your closet. Expect the collection to hit small boutiques for spring, but in the meantime, Ecubyan is taking pre-orders.

· Official Site: Ecubyan