If you told Maja Svensson when she moved to New York to work at Swedish consulate five and half years ago that in 2013 she would own her own fashion brand, she would hardly believe you. But it’s true. “Sweden is not as entrepreneurial as New York, ” Maja told us. “But here I got really inspired, and I wanted a career change.” Without a formal training in fashion design, she learned as much she could from her pattern makers and when she realized that her designs were being well-received, Elsa and Me was born.

Elsa and Me was named after Maja’s ever elegant grandmother. A woman of class who was hardly ever without a hat to match but was also a homemaker inspired Maja’s all-purpose fashion brand. “My target group are professional women,” explains the Bushwick resident. “In my dresses, women can look professional and feminine at the same time.” Maja’s dresses are truly beautiful, stylish and universal – they can be worn for a number of occasions. When  I tried on the dress I personally appreciated the pleasant stretch material they are made of, thanks to which they fit a number of body types.

“The majority of my clients are in Manhattan,” Maja told us, “but my approach is very Brooklyn.” Her dresses are made of certified organic cotton to the highest extent possible, and they are definitely not a one-time-wear type of garment. It is a dress that belongs in every woman’s closet of timeless, elegant classics.

The fall collection of Elsa and Me will be launching on Wednesday, September 4, 6-8PM at Storefront Ten Eyck. It will be an evening of one-night-only shopping discounts, cocktails, music (Linda Draper), ice cream (Phin & Phebes) and networking with NYC professional women. A limited number of tickets is available online for $10. RSVP on Facebook and see you there!