FASHTALKS WITH BADGLEY MISCHKA

When did you both know you wanted to become designers?

Mark Badgley: I knew from childhood that I loved clothes and the idea of making women look beautiful. I have memories of watching Lucille Ball in “I Love Lucy” and sketching her outfits as a kid.

James Mischka: I realized in college that I was meant to be a designer – I had planned to be an engineer, but the art of design derailed me.

What is your earliest design memory for your brand? 

Our first collection was inspired by our friends, most specifically Mark’s twin sister O’Hara. We’ve always been about making our customers feel beautiful and powerful.

“We have always been about providing our customers with glamorous, modern, wearable looks that they can count on – which is unusual, in that we deal with fantasy and dreams.”

What made you want to design women’s apparel and accessories?

It is so much more fun and gratifying to design for women than for men – they really appreciate all the things that we do.

Where do you find inspiration?

In addition to our rapport with our customers, we get inspiration from travel, textiles, and very importantly, Old Hollywood; both the movies themselves and the idea of that lifestyle.

What did the beginnings of Badgley Mischka look like?

It has always been a labor of love. In the beginning, it was just the two of us and a seamstress. We slept on a futon under the cutting table, and our dog was always there to get in the way. We did everything ourselves and ran around like New York rats – but we wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.

When was your first industry experience and how did it impact you?

So many! One of our favorites was driving down Fifth Avenue after a dinner, passing Bergdorf Goodman, and realizing that we had all of the windows with our dresses – they installed them a day early, and it was like an early Christmas for us!   

What brand values are most important for Badgley Mischka?

We have always been about providing our customers with glamorous, modern, wearable looks that they can count on – which is unusual, in that we deal with fantasy and dreams.

“We’ve survived 35 years in this industry because we have always believed in the power of dreams and made those dreams wearable.”

What was the toughest circumstance you overcame when just starting out your business?

Definitely the name! For years, people thought we were a Russian lady…

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new designer?

First, get as much advice as you can from people you trust and respect. Then, ignore most of it – trust your own instincts!

What sets your brand apart from the rest?

We’ve survived 35 years in this industry because we have always believed in the power of dreams and made those dreams wearable.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?  

35 years in business and still having fun!

What can you tell us about Badgley Mischka apparel and accessories being featured in movies and TV shows? How was the experience?

It is always great to see your work in other contexts, including TV shows and movies – that’s what inspires us, so it is kind of a circular path. And our friends see it, which is so much fun!

What do you envision for the future of your brand?

We love where we are now, but there is still so much to do. The globalization of Badgley Mischka is very much a priority, as well as expanding into even more product categories.

What are the most important things you would like your brand to be recognized for?

Quality, glamour, and elegance.

What should customers expect to see next from Badgley Mischka?

Stay tuned…