This past week we launched our collaboration with ONE/OF, an NYC-based brand that creates elevated, one-of-a-kind pieces using reclaimed materials. Founder Patricia Voto, whose extensive experience in fashion and keen eye for detail is evident in each design, combined KULE’s happy and playful designs with ONE/OF’s whimsy and romance, creating a truly special collection.
We had the pleasure of talking with Patricia about her background in fashion, what inspires her, her love of Italy, and the best place to spend a fancy night in NYC. Without further ado: meet Patricia!
I am a New Yorker born and raised. I studied at Parsons and received a BFA in Product Design. In 2009, I developed my senior thesis just as sustainable practices and climate discussions were gaining traction across many industries. The concept was a timely closed-loop manufacturing process of luxury goods in developing countries. This idea coincided with the emergence of brands like Suno and Alabama Chanin. At the time, only a few companies were implementing responsible practices, so I pursued working with emerging brands at the designer level. While our practices were better than in the mass fashion market, we still had leftover fabrics at the end of each season, and they started to add up. It dawned on me that something could be done with the fabrics aside from collecting dust. That’s when I decided to ask our creative directors if I could take some [of the leftover fabric] and make something out of it for myself. And the idea of ONE/OF was born. – Patricia Voto
Right: ONE/OF x KULE Trench Coat with Cuffs, Small Tote with Flowers, Patchwork Hooded Dickey
Photographed by Louisiana Mei Gelpi
I love seeing these precious fabrics become something our clients can cherish and wear forever. I want to create pieces that fit a body perfectly and be the first thing you reach for in your closet – it’s surreal to see people embracing what we make and how we make it. Our creative process starts with the fabrics. It’s an emotional process for us. We fall in love with the materials we find throughout the world. Knowing they’re finite, we carefully and creatively pair them with the perfect silhouette.
Right: ONE/OF x KULE Rachel Pant, Raleigh Sweatshirt with Flower Brooches, and Vlinder Slides styled with KULE Hutton Shirt
Now for some tea 🫖 with a quick round of questions!
What is your favorite piece from the ONE/OF x KULE collection? Where would you wear it?
The Jessica Skirt in the yellow floral warp printed taffeta. I would wear it any day with an oversized sweater. I love KULE’s “The Betty ” sweater, and it would look amazing tucked into the KULE striped waistband on the Jessica Skirt.
What is your go-to outfit, and how does that differ from the pieces you design for ONE/OF?
Nowadays, I am in a sweater and jeans because we are running around from place to place, but if I had it my way, I would probably have an oversized sweater tucked into a high-waisted voluminous skirt. I love our Jessica Skirt (part of our KULE collection) and Thais Mockneck Sweater. For everyday jeans, I love Jeans No. 2 from Commission. I bought them in two sizes since they’re unisex. One for a more relaxed look and the other for more tailored. The wash is a beautiful indigo and then their signature back detail is so special.
What would you do if you didn’t work in fashion?
I would have my own gift-giving websites with all different combinations of gift boxes. I love giving gifts: a beautiful soap set from a trip I took, a set of lotions, or a uniquely scented candle. These small things make up how we live our lives and bring so much joy into our lives. While studying at Parsons, I used to work at Kate’s Paperie and learned all of the Japanese gift wrapping styles: mixing papers, pleating, and beautiful knotting. I find the presentation is equally as important as the gift itself!
What are some specific gifts you would recommend?
– Soap: I love Laguna Cyprien’s Soaps. They come in beautiful shapes and beautiful packaging. I gift them and use them daily.
– Lotion: Nature of Things makes the best body creme.
– Lipstick: Folk Orange is my go-to color from Dries Van Noten in the Spring/Summer. It looks great with a tan. I love the refillable cases, too.
– Candles: We are obsessed with Maison D’Etto. We carry the candles in the studio. I love all the scents, but Karat EG and Canaan are the studio favorite.
What does a work day look like for you, and what do you do on the weekends for pleasure?
Work days are busy! We have clients in our studio all the time for fittings, we have meetings with fabric mills and our factories. It is really non-stop and we are so lucky to have such incredible clients who are really supportive of our mission. Weekends, I like to go visit my family, especially my niece and nephew, in New Jersey. Reality TV shows are a true guilty pleasure that I love to indulge in during our moments of downtime.
Right: ONE/OF x KULE Bettina Dress and Vlinder Slides
Where is your favorite place to travel? Where would you live if not NYC?
Italy. Definitely Italy. Rome has to be my favorite city.
Where in NYC is a favorite place to get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks?:
– Breakfast at Lodi. They serve the best maritozzo con panna (I live for cream fillings) and make the perfect cappuccino.
– Lunch at Le Botaniste. The best place to go for something healthy, flavorful, and fast.
– Dinner for a fancy night: Majorelle. Dinner for a casual night: We’ll pick up from Burger Joint.
– Cocktails at The Carlyle. This is right near my apartment uptown, so when it is the end of a long day, we pop over there for a quick drink.
Thank you to Patricia for your time to talk and for creating this collection we are so proud of with us! To shop ONE/OF x KULE, visit KULE Rockefeller Center, where it is exclusively sold. If you can’t make it to the store, click here to make a virtual shopping appointment.