With the opening of The Monarch by Luly Yang in Kirkland, designer Luly Yang brings together more than 20 years of creativity. Inside the light-filled, two-story space, Yang’s worlds of fashion, art, interiors, and hospitality merge. We spoke with Yang about the metamorphosis behind The Monarch and what she hopes guests will discover.
What inspired The Monarch? How does it bring together your creative journey?
The Monarch invites you to experience the world of Luly Yang in a more immersive way. The name comes from my Monarch Butterfly Gown, the dress that changed everything for me. I created it in 2000, before I had a fashion business or imagined where this journey would take me. It became an iconic representation of my brand and was the beginning of everything that followed. Today, The Monarch brings that creative journey together, with fashion, art, interiors, objects, craftsmanship, and creativity in one place, connected by the same human-centered point of view.
Inside the space, history and modern elegance intersect. The main floor contains The Gallery, showcasing ready-to-wear and products; The Monarch Boardroom for meetings; and a curvilinear bar flecked with gold leaf for hosting.
How does The Monarch embody your philosophy, “The Art of Couture Living?”
Recently, I rediscovered some of my journals from when I first started my business. In one, I wrote the words, “The Art of Couture Living.” I wrote those words more than 20 years ago, and seeing them again made me realize how deeply they still describe what I believe today. To me, couture is not only about a beautiful gown; it is a way of thinking. It begins with the individual. You listen, understand, and then create something around the human being.
My medium has continued to evolve, including graphics, architecture, fashion, textiles, uniforms, and interiors, but my purpose has remained the same: Using design to elevate the human experience.
On the mezzanine level, via a staircase wrapped in gold-speckled wallpaper that catches the shifting daylight, is Luly Yang’s private couture area for designs and couture consultations. Also on the mezzanine is the Luly Suite, Yang’s private design studio and office.
How do you want people to feel when they experience The Monarch?
I want people to feel welcomed. I hope there’s a sense of discovery and wonder, and warmth and calm. I want people to linger, look closer, find something unexpected, and feel inspired. We dress you, your company and teams, and now also your home. The Monarch gives us a place where all of those worlds can come together.
What lasting lessons will you take away from this ambitious project?
First, a creative vision takes many talented hands to bring it to life. Couture taught me that years ago. I may envision a collection and establish its creative direction, but it takes designers, pattern makers, and seamstresses, each bringing their own expertise, to make it real.
With The Monarch, I experienced that on a different scale. I gained an even deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship required to bring a vision into physical form.
Second, great design requires a balance between imagination and discipline. A building has to be functional and compliant, but those requirements do not have to limit creativity. They provide the framework within which we can innovate.
I kept returning to the human experience: Is it comfortable and intuitive? Does it function the way we need it to? Does it create the experience we want people to have? The goal is to find the place where beauty, function, comfort, and emotion can coexist.
Third, be thoughtful about the team you bring together. Individual talent and expertise matter, but so do trust, communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the same goal. Challenges are inevitable; what matters is how you work through them and continue moving forward.
Looking back, what brings you the deepest sense of gratitude?
The people. So many people have been part of this journey: our team, clients, friends, craftspeople, and community. Kirkland has watched this building transform over several years, and I’m grateful for their patience. Now I get to open the doors and say, ‘Come in.’
What do you hope people feel when they think of The Monarch?
Joy. I hope The Monarch becomes associated with good memories. Maybe it’s something you wore, an object you discovered here, an event you attended, a conversation you had, or a moment that made you smile. When people think of the things I design, I hope they remember the things themselves, but also the positive feelings and memories connected to them. For me, that is what design is about: creating experiences that become part of people’s lives.
I want people to linger, look closer, find something unexpected, and feel inspired.