The brand
flor et. al is an advanced contemporary eveningwear collection created in New York City by a team of international designers who find inspiration in their personal backgrounds and cultures.
The collection’s name, derived from the words “Flor”, Spanish for flower and “et al”, the abbreviation of the Latin word et alia, which means “and others” is an acknowledgement that our beauty is the consequence to all that flourishes around us. Based on this foundation, flor et.al seeks to give women an unconventional, feminine, fun alternative to traditional eveningwear.
Motivated by a global perception of beauty, flor et. al collaborates with artisans around the world to find the vintage hand painted artwork for their prints and as well as working with small artisans in India to create the hand beaded floral designs to pair back to the collection. flor et. al has partnered with NEST, a non-profit that connects artisans and designers all over the globe.
The Team
Karin Gardkvist – Design Director
Growing up in Sweden, Karin was constantly immersed in the beauty of nature which incited her love for flowers, animals and the natural beauty of the countryside.
With love for all things vintage and an eye for pattern making Karin decided to peruse a degree in fashion. Initially studying textile engineering at Boris University in Gothenburg Sweden, Karin opted to follow her interest in design at the London College of Fashion which led her to complete her design degree at Middlesex University. Following graduation, she secured a coveted job at Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. Her experience at Preen led to the Head Designer job at Marchesa Notte, where she led a successful collection for 5 years.
Living in Sweden, London and NYC has given Karin a global perspective on women’s fashion; she believes creativity is borderless and fluid. While her Swedish culture serves as a foundation for her designs, her design style has continued to evolve, spanning many countries, periods and styles. Today, serving as the Design Director for Flor et.al, she focuses on designing more modern, non-traditional eveningwear, filling a void she saw in the market. She often looks back at different decades of fashion and vintage prints for inspiration for the collection, yet seeks to offer a modern twist to her designs. Karin finds importance in collaborating with artisans all over the world to help produce prints that portray what motivates her: the global perception of beauty.
Nadia Manjarrez– Product Development Manager
Born and Raised in the north of Mexico, Nadia aspired to be an astronaut until she realized she could turn her hobby of making clothes for her dolls into a design career.
Nadia received her degree in Fashion and Textile Design from the University of Monterrey and moved to New York in 2011 for a design internship with couture designer Bibhu Mohapatra. Before going to work for JS Group International, she worked in product development for brands including Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Cushnie et Ochs and David Meister.
As Product Development Manager, Nadia always thinks of the specific woman wearing each style before designing – where is she going and how this style will stand out. Coming from a Latin American culture, she often keeps curvier bodies in mind when designing. She wants the woman wearing the clothing to feel confident and elegant, while still staying true to herself.
Milad Khoreibani – Associate Designer
From the Ivory coast, to Lebanon and NY, Milad’s experience with diverse cultures has provided him with a broad understanding of fashion, décor, architecture, color, and shaped his love of putting them together the way he sees it. Originally born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Khoreibani relocated to Lebanon as a teen. Initially studying law at the Lebanese University of Beirut, Milad decided to change career paths and follow his love of drawing, painting and design.
In pursuit of his passion, he elected to attend the French private school of fashion, ESMOD.
During his last semester, Khoreibani’s decision to pursue a career in fashion was solidified from the amazing response he received from designers Elie Saab and Rabih Kayrouz during the presentation of his final collection. Shortly after graduating with a degree in design and pattern making, Milad moved to New York to launch a sportswear brand with his partner, Blair Stanley. After 6 years of designing the line, Milad became re-acquainted with the craft of handmade beadwork and delicate gown design and went on to work for Marchesa. He later worked for David Meister as an Assistant Designer working alongside both Karin Gardkvist and Nadia Manjarrez. Today, Milad serves as an Associate Designer for flor et.al
He often designs with this quote by Alexander McQueen in mind “When I design, I try to sell an image of a woman that I have in mind, a concept that changes dramatically each season.”