Even—and especially—when the world looks grim, Mira Mikati has a knack for brightening a day. An optimist by nature, she draws her creative energy from a sense of playfulness, splashing her various loves—colorful characters, upbeat messages, flowers, butterflies and the like—in embroidery across a wardrobe.
For fall, the designer took a cue from Richard Scarry, whose illustrated storybooks are beloved by generations of readers. In partnership with the author’s estate, Mikati decorated a yellow fleece, hoodie and shirt with the Tyrolean-hatted, charmingly oblivious Lowly Worm, a fan favorite in the Busytown universe for close to 60 years now.
Elsewhere, one of the season’s messages was “I think I think too much,” spelled out along the back of a coat (its corollary, “Over Thinker,” appeared on a jacket). Striped neckties fully embroidered with tube beads mixed it up with a double-breasted jacket sprinkled with fish, butterflies and flower buttons, which Mikati considers “a little like jewels.”
Once she got rolling, ideas for shaking up the classics came pouring in: an Argyle sweater got the crayon treatment, a traditional cable knit was inset with colorful hearts, an orange zip cardigan came with a knitted duck pull, and a hand-crocheted paper doll motif turned up appliquéd on a skirt. A village of characters—embroidered in India—congregated on a Kelly-green shirt. Mikati’s clients tend to collect coats season after season. Here, a tweed coat came to life with embroidery of a hot air ballon, a house, a shooting star, and a heart, while another coat messaged both a riddle and its answer (check under the collar).
Slipped in among the fun was a humble snail with a timely message, courtesy of the Grateful Dead: “I Need a Miracle,” and a tee that asked, “Can I dream for just 5 more minutes?” By the time next PFW rolls around, fans passing through Paris will be able to drop by and linger for as long as they like in Mikati’s new jewel box of a store, an opening that marks the 10th anniversary of the brand, on the Rue d’Alger.
