Lyz Olko Goes Back to the Land for Her New Line

Fans of Lyz Olko’s original designs for now-defunct cult-favorite label Obesity + Speed can rejoice: The designer has created an eponymous new line of edgy, casual, eco-friendly separates for cool men and women, which launches exclusively at Curve this week. The first collection, titled “Back to the Land,” repurposes vintage Levi’s 501 and 505 jeans, charms from Olko’s friend Anna Sheffield (of Anna Sheffield Fine Jewelry and Bing Bang), and more, and is all hand-crafted on the Lower East Side, a departure from the mass scale of her first line. “Obesity + Speed had grown very large, which is awesome, but at the same time to produce on that scale, and to work with larger stores, everything has to be exactly the same. After a certain point I just didn’t want to be working like that anymore,” Olko explains. “I appreciate the beauty in imperfection, and with this new collection, each garment is a little bit different because we make them literally by hand.”

The designer, who also (somehow) finds the time to act as Director of Nightlife and VIP Services at The Jane Group, finds inspiration in her massive film and book library and has a deep rooted love of music. She enlisted husband and wife rock duo Kaylie Church and Richie James Follin of Guards to appear in the look book. “All the clothes just looked natural on them,” she says. “When I think of the girl who is the perfect representative of the collection, it is someone who is really independent, really beautiful, does things for herself, has appreciation for nature and music, and has kind of like a Sissy Spacek in Badlands vibe.” But if you lack guitar skills, don’t fret—Olko insists the line is what you make it. “I hate it when a designer says, ‘There’s something for everyone,’” she says, laughing. “But I think there kind of is!”