In conversation with Eckhaus Latta

The fact that their brand name is a fusion of their surnames says a great deal about the creative connection between Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta, the founders of the label behind the collection we have launched with Mango this summer. They met while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), one of the most prestigious art and design schools in the United States. He, a New Yorker, focused on sculpture; she, from Los Angeles, specialised in textiles. What brought them together was a shared desire to experiment without rules and to explore fashion from a freer, more open perspective.

Since then, their collections have explored the relationship between clothing and the body through a distinctly non-normative lens. Rather than following or dictating trends, they create pieces with a deliberately raw, intuitive, and at times even domestic quality, while understanding luxury as something that can also belong in the everyday wardrobe. That same spirit runs through ECKHAUS LATTA x MANGO, a collection designed to celebrate personal expression in daily life and the rhythm of the city.

Now, after 15 years of working together, Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta finish each other’s sentences and speak about this collaboration with the ease of two people who share the same creative vision. The result is a collection that successfully brings together the codes of both brands.

How would you describe the collection ECKHAUS LATTA x MANGO in three words?

Mike: I’d say it’s flirty.

Zoe: I think it’s pretty sexy. And there’s also a real sense of quality to it, especially in the materials. The colour palette feels very electric. There are acid yellows, that bright football blue, strong reds, and also greys that make the colours feel sharper and more charged. So we have flirty, electric…

Mike: And fresh. It feels fresh. Exactly — fresh. Like a fresh mango: juicy, vibrant, and full of energy.

What do you think the two brands have in common?

Zoe: I don’t know about the New York side of it, but California and the Mediterranean definitely share something.

Mike: The landscapes are essentially very similar.

Zoe: Yes, the landscape, but also the lifestyle.

Mike: The attitude.

Zoe: Working hard, playing hard, and relaxing hard.

Mike: Maybe the “working hard” part is more New York, but there’s definitely a shared sense of ease. Nothing feels too fussy. We don’t like making things that feel overworked or overly complicated, and I think of MANGO in the same way: cool, easy, and not too tricky.

Zoe: Casual, but not in a boring way. More in an everyday sense — pieces you can really live your life in, without feeling weighed down.

The prints in the collection are very bold — why did you choose them that way?

Mike: They’re great. I really like them.

Zoe: We were inspired by fish skins and gathered a lot of reference images — different kinds of fish, and even frog eggs. Then we worked with the MANGO team to develop these amazing repeat patterns. I think that’s an important part of the story.

Mike: Yes, definitely. I especially love them on the bikinis and swimsuits, because that’s something we hadn’t done before. It was exciting to bring those prints into swimwear.

If you had to pick one look that reflects the spirit of the collection, which would it be?

Mike: I really love the look with the tie-detail fisherman-style skirt, the chain, and the bralette.

Zoe: I love the marled bikini with the polo. Wearing a bikini with a polo sounds unusual, but it really works.

Mike: I also love the shirt with one of those fish-skin prints, styled with metallic denim trousers.

How do you hope people feel when they wear this collection?

Mike: I hope people feel hot — summer hot.

Zoe: Yes, I hope they feel sexy. But above all, I hope they feel good and confident. They’re going to look great.