Kara’s design philosophy is a celebration of multi-layered identity and freedom of expression

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We profile the people behind the fashion industry’s must-know brands, from high-end industry leaders to breakout names. Learn about their creative process and get to know who makes the designs you love.

There is a 99 percent chance you’ve seen a Kara bag before. But who is the person behind the brand? That would be Sarah Law, creative director and founder of Kara, the unapologetic New York accessories brand on a mission to be nothing but itself.

Growing up, the designer — half Chinese and half American — learned to navigate her dual identity with families and cultures. It would undeniably trickle into her brand, something that serves to meet people right where they’re at. “I think there are many people in the world that have that experience of [a] multi-layered identity, where you’re not just one thing. You’re maybe a mixture of things,” the designer tells In The Know.

On brand identity:

“When I think of fashion, I see it as an extension of a person’s expression or their identity,” she explains. “I just love this idea of elevating everyday objects, things that you see all of the time. That’s a big part of my inspiration, looking at practical objects and finding a way to make them special.”

On the challenges of being a brand owner:

“I’ve been a business owner for seven years. We launched [in] August 2013. The process of running a business is really intensive because, for me, I went to art school, and my vision was to be a creative director. There’s selling the product, marketing the product, there’s creating all the content related to your product. Then there’s running a team, managing a team.”

On the future of the brand:

“A big thing for me in the next few seasons is really to work on that idea [of genderless accessories] and to continue pushing the boundaries between products that are not clearly a bag or garment and really give people more room to play with how they use them.”

On building your craft:

“Really stay true to what you’re interested in. I don’t really believe in this idea of natural talent. I think that people who are really successful work really hard at what they do, and they don’t give up when things get tough.”

Follow the brand on Instagram and shop some of the best products down below.

Shop: Logo Plaque Mini Bag, $325

Credit: Farfetch

Shop: SSENSE Exclusive Beige Chain Bike Wallet Bag, $395

Credit: SSENSE

Shop: Pink Large Bike Wallet Bag, $375

Credit: SSENSE

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