Chatting with Melissa Wang of Eden & Zoe

Melissa Wang knows most kids hate “itchy” clothing. That’s why she started searching for cashmere to dress her daughters. But when she realized the quality and style she was looking for was missing from most children’s knitwear lines, she decided to leave her career as a corporate lawyer and create her own. Thus, Eden & Zoe was born.

Named after her two eldest daughters, the San Francisco-based line debuted its super soft duds for girls in Fall ’13 and a boys’ collection was added in Fall ’14. Made from 100 percent cashmere yarns sourced from the Mongolian highlands, each collection is made in small quantities using a hand-operated knitting machine and finished by hand. “I want to create pieces that my daughters love to wear and feel comfortable in whilst looking stylish at the same time,” Wang says, noting that Asian as well as Western design perspectives influence her. (She grew up between Hong Kong and London.) Sizes range from 2 to 10. For Spring ’15, Eden & Zoe spans floral patterns and flowing silhouettes, inspired by Wang’s daughters’ love of nature.

Here, we chat with the designer about what else influences her.

What was your favorite piece of clothing growing up? I think I spent most of my childhood in school uniforms! Needless to say, the uniforms were not the most comfortable or fashionable pieces of clothing in my wardrobe growing up. That probably explains why I am committed to creating clothes that are comfortable using the best quality possible.

Who is your style icon? What style I like depends on what mood I’m in. I like people who are versatile and are able to look stylish in different ways whatever the setting.

Which trends do you hope to never see again? I think many trends from the ’80s are probably best forgotten!

Which designer do you admire the most? I admire so many different types of designers that it would be hard to pick just one. I love designs that are classic and understated yet modern. The detailing and craftsmanship of the product are important to me, as are the materials that it is made from.

What is your favorite part of your job? The creative aspect is my favorite. I’m always excited when I’m designing for the next season and thinking of new themes and inspirations. Plus I love seeing how much Eden and Zoe enjoy my clothing.

If you weren’t designing clothes, what would you be doing? I would probably still be a lawyer dreaming about doing something else.

If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would it be? Keanu Reeves. Enough said!

What are three things you cannot live without? I would say my three daughters: Eden, Zoe and Elise (our newest addition this November!).