This month marks the launch of Lys, a sustainable clothing line based in Fort Greene. For 15 years, the Manhattan-bred designer Lizzy Seklir has been living in Brooklyn, a borough that has played a large part in her design aesthetic. “I see a confident use of materials in Brooklyn, whether it’s food, glass, or metal, people here are innovating and reexamining the materials in their lives,” said Seklir. Her collection, made predominantly of organic cotton, hemp, and chemical-free silk, was born from this very idea.
Lizzy’s commitment to sustainability isn’t just about the fabric however, it’s about giving women clothes that can play a long-lasting role in their lives. The quality of the materials combined with classic lines and clean tailoring was cultivated to combat the influx of ‘disposable fashion’ from large-scale producers. “I wanted my customer to have something that could evolve with her over time, shift as her life shifts, and last forever in a healthy way.” She lists multiple influences for her designs—everything from Bryan Ferry videos and Sade to Azzedine Alaïa and Yves Saint Laurent—and somehow they’re all in there, giving you the sense that you could wear a black silk blouse from your office to dinner to a concert deep in the heart of Bushwick. This makes sense when you hear her describe her customer as someone who “isn’t just going through the motions, but is living a nuanced life.” Looking at the airy frocks and muted color palette in the Spring Collection, it’s easy to imagine wanting to spend all your days in these clothes.
The Spring Collection is available for sale now through the website: lysnewyork.com.
Contact Lizzy at liz@lysnewyork.com to place an order.
The Fall Collection is available via pre-order, images available soon on the website. For a sneak preview, become a fan of Lys on Facebook.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram