Urban Zen Spring 2018 Ready-To-Wear.....Fashionweekly...On Fow24news.com

Donna Karan is heading to Ethiopia—and Kenya, and Morocco, and Tanzania, and a few other places in Africa, too. She was planning her trip while she designed the Urban Zen Spring 2018 collection, which is arriving in the brand’s Manhattan, Sag Harbor, and Los Angeles stores now.....
“I designed everything to pack for Africa,” she said, only half-joking. The clothes were drapey and elegant in Karan’s signature way, but they’ll also be highly practical for her travels: The silk layering pieces roll up and resist wrinkles, and every piece can be worn a few different ways, so you can feasibly bring less. Most of the top-stitched jackets were reversible, poplin shirt-dresses could be knotted and twisted or tucked into pants, and a slouchy skirt could be wrapped into three different silhouettes. You won’t find anything particularly rigid or structured in the mix; comfort is key for Urban Zen, as well as the flexibility to wear the clothes pretty much anywhere. “If you can’t sleep in it and go out in it, I don’t want to wear it,” Karan said. “I don’t want to think about clothes—I just want to throw them on, feel good, and that’s it, day or night.”

Her new pajama-like blouses, pants, and robes fit those requirements to a tee. There were a few dressier items, too, like soft pinstriped suiting and a ribbon-strewn ivory blazer, but the dropped shoulders and raw edges kept the mood unmistakably relaxed. To make a bigger statement, Karan relies on jewelry, like giant, impossibly light leather-wrapped necklaces handmade in Haiti, and accessories, including beaded leather belt bags that came from Italy. Those artisans’ stories are woven into every facet of Urban Zen; you can see their hand in the clothes and accessories, but also in the art, home decor, ceramics, and chandeliers all over the store. The Urban Zen Foundation also works to preserve culture in Haiti, Bali, and beyond through education initiatives and community programs. “When you walk in the store, it feels like you’ve traveled!” Karan joked. She’s sort of right; shopping at Urban Zen is an immersive experience, and it’s a treat to be able to walk away with authentic pieces from all over the world without ever booking a plane ticket.