The CULT of ECKHAUS LATTA

What does an INDIE fashion SUCCESS STORY look like TODAY? A lot like the EVER-COOL brand Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta have BUILT.

- TEXT BY BROOKE BOBB

“WE'RE REALLY OLD,” says Mike Eckhaus. “Over the hill,” adds Zoe Latta. Eckhaus and Latta, both 38, are of course not at all old. They're talking about their brand of warped American sportswear, Eckhaus Latta, which has been around for 15 years. It’s a good chunk of time by any stretch, but in fashion years that’s a lifetime.

The fashion industry has never been a forgiving one, and it is particularly tough for independent brands that lack the resources and infrastructure of the bigger houses and labels and often have to create their own pathways to success. Eckhaus Latta stands out, not only for its sustained success (its latest collection, Fall 2026, a sublime mix of offbeat basics and slashed and sheer eveningwear, was widely considered one of the best of the season) but for the way it pushes against all things corporate and algorithmic. Instead of trends and gimmicks, there's just beautifully made, clever ready-to-wear, as well as the idea that clothes should work for you and no one else.

Eckhaus sees their brand, in part, as defined by one straightforward and relatable question: “How do you make clothing that's provocative and interesting but not too loud and looking like an idiot type of situation?”

Latta smiles and says, “We've definitely been the idiot.”