Behind the Brand With NYLORA's Carolyn Jang

Carolyn Jang, the founder of NYLORA, talks about what constitutes the perfect piece of activewear, what she has learned since she started her company and her first brand collaboration with Molly Sims.

Interview by Alison Engstrom

Before we start chatting about your brand, how have you been navigating this unprecedented time period from both a personal and business perspective?

It's been a tough year to say the least for everyone. I try to think about a positive future. I have also worked on being more compassionate with myself and those around me. We are all in this together.

I’d love to hear what inspired you to launch your brand?

I simply wanted to make elevated everyday clothes that fit seamlessly into the active woman’s life. While experiencing nuanced differences in our cultures living in both the US and Korea, I noticed a need to bridge the gap between activewear and ready-to-wear.

What were you doing prior?

I trained at Parsons and am a peripatetic knitwear specialist. Prior to launching Nylora I worked at Vince. My design focuses on movement so it was an easy transition for me to come from a luxury and contemporary background to design high performance collections.

One of the things that I love most about your pieces are how soft and comfortable they are, like second skin. What were some non-negotiables for you when creating your brand?

Quality, fit, and versatility are our brand values which guides my design choices. Fabric choices are super important to me—I search far and wide for the best ones!

What’s the meaning behind the name?

It's actually my name spelled backwards!

Where do you get inspired for your designs?

I get my best inspiration from actual women I meet everywhere. All women have strength, always juggling a million things, living a multi-dimensional active life. I try to design things that make their lives just a little easier - quality versatile pieces that make them look chic for their everyday.

What has been one of the easiest and hardest lessons to learn since running your own business?

When I first started Nylora, I was so easily influenced by all the different buyers wanting different things. I wanted to make sure we got into as many stores as we could. But by listening to all of their requests, the brand lost a bit of point of view. It's so important to keep true to what you have set out for the brand. In the long run, having a unique point of view and being true to your design philosophy will pay off.

Congratulations on your new partnership with Molly Sims. Can you share how this came about?

Thank you! Molly has been such an incredible supporter and truly embodies the Nylora woman—she’s sophisticated, smart, ambitious and personable. We reached out and were so honored she chose to work with us for her first athleisure collaboration.

How did you approach the design/collaboration together?

We had worked on this for about a year. Our teams have an organic relationship, and we have been loving seeing Molly in Nylora looks for her day to day.

What are you most proud of about the collaboration?

I love how people can easily mix and match any of the collaboration styles with existing pieces from your wardrobe. The monochromatic colors are timelessly tonal.

NYLORA in three words…

versatility, quality, design.

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