Malaika Boysen Haaning the founder of Malaika New York was featured in a local magazine by Nærnyt in August 2024.
She studied fashion at one of the world’s top design schools, Parsons School of Design in New York, and has lived in the U.S. for over ten years, as well as in several other countries.
She moved back to Kolding, Denmark, bringing her clothing brand, Malaika New York, along with her husband Rasmus and their twin boys, who are now five years old.
“After many years abroad, we wanted to be closer to family and Danish friends. We wanted to live in nature and in a peaceful area that is safe for children to grow up in. We chose Nr. Bjert because of the school (Lyshøj School),” Malaika explains.
Instead of towering skyscrapers, she now overlooks the glacial landscape by Eltang Vig from the family’s villa on Rugmarken.
Thanks to the internet, she can run her international business from a small local space.
Her designs are available in select stores in Denmark, New York, and Los Angeles, as well as internationally. However, the majority of sales happen through her website, malaikanewyork.com.
What made an ordinary Danish girl dream big about living in major cities abroad and becoming a fashion designer?
Malaika’s unique first name is not part of the explanation. “Malaika” is Swahili for “my angel,” but she denies that her parents put any pressure on her to stand out with such a name.
On the contrary, they insisted she pursue a traditional education when, as a young girl, she still dreamed of becoming a fashion designer.
She trained as a freight forwarder at a business college in Kolding, and while working abroad for the Danish international transport and logistics company DSV, she fulfilled her first dream of working and living overseas.
However, her vision of a career in fashion remained alive, and in 2014, Malaika applied to and was accepted at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York.
It was during her studies there that she founded her company and began designing and producing women’s clothing.
Her design philosophy is driven by the goal of making women feel comfortable and look great in versatile styles that can be worn to parties, at work, on beach vacations, and more.
Her clothing reflects Scandinavian simplicity and international elegance.
Malaika’s mission is to create high-end garments designed to last for several years.
“I don’t follow fashion trends because I believe they stress women out and create waste,” she says.
Her garments are produced and processed by a Danish-led company in Turkey, with guaranteed quality in both clothing and materials. Everything used is either GOTS-certified or made from recycled materials.
By utilizing square patterns and specialized sewing techniques, she significantly reduces textile waste.
Malaika New York achieves a waste rate of only 15-20% compared to the industry standard of 30%.
She experiments with unconventional materials, such as a poncho made from plastic bottles or a jacket in faux “leather” crafted from bicycle inner tubes that would otherwise end up in landfills.
In New York, she is recognized as a leading brand in Circular Fashion, a growing concept in the fashion industry focusing on sustainability. This involves a regenerative system where materials are systematically reused, garments are made to last longer, and production waste is minimized.
Malaika’s goal is to create timeless, trend-free designs for women, contributing to reducing the fashion industry’s impact on the climate and environment.
She strives to debunk the myth that sustainable fashion is boring.
Using top-quality fabrics and materials—such as linen, silk, and cotton—her clothing embraces women’s bodies in just the right places.
She creates unique designs that cannot be found anywhere else.
An essential part of Malaika’s mission is to offer clothing that women can wear through various life stages, including pregnancy, weight gain, or age-related changes.
By designing styles that fit two sizes, women can feel more secure and comfortable regardless of how their bodies change.
FACTS ABOUT MALAIKA BOYSEN HAANING
• 40 years old and living with her husband and two children in Nr. Bjert
• Born and raised in Jordrup, northwest Kolding
• Trained as a freight forwarder in Kolding with a career at DSV
• Fashion design graduate from Parsons School of Design, Brooklyn, NY
• Founder and owner of Malaika New York
Contact: info@malaikanewyork.com
Follow on Instagram: @malaika_new_york
Website: www.malaikanewyork.com
Our Models and Malaika
A big thank you to our models: from left, Vivi, a retired midwife; Victoria Elisabeth, who studies at Munkensdam Gymnasium, international line, and lives in Drejens; Malaika Haaning in the center; Line, a pediatrician from Drejens; and on the right, Anna-Luisa, a commercial manager from Rødding.
Photographed August 5, 2024, in Malaika’s garden on Rugmarken, Nr. Bjert, by Jonas Ahlstrøm.
Line
Line is wearing the Zero Vest and Wave Skirt, both from the zero-waste collection. The elegant black vest highlights your curves while discreetly covering what you prefer to keep hidden. The neckline can be styled in multiple ways, allowing for personal customization. Made with ECONYL® fiber, a regenerated nylon sourced from old fishing nets and other nylon waste. The black Wave bodycon skirt, also crafted with ECONYL® fibers, features an upcycled bicycle tube detail and an elastic waistband, enabling you to rotate the skirt for a fresh look each time. It moves gracefully around the body, creating a flowing, continuous line.
Vivi
Vivi is dressed in the Asymmetrical Dress, the perfect black dress that enhances your curves and gives you a sophisticated style. This latest design combines a unique draped look with a more fitted silhouette, flattering your figure. The asymmetrical hem adds a touch of elegance, while the neckline highlights your face and features. This black shift dress is an ideal choice for your next special occasion, guaranteed to draw attention. Step out in style and confidence with our flattering black asymmetrical shift dress.
Design by: Malaika New York. Models: Line and Vivi. Photo: Jonas Ahlstrøm.
Malaika Boysen Haaning, Fashion Designer
Recently returned from New York and now based in Nr. Bjert, where she runs her business. Malaika’s designs are driven by the desire to make women feel comfortable and look great in styles that work for parties, work, beach vacations, and much more. Her clothing reflects Scandinavian simplicity paired with international elegance. Malaika’s mission is to create high-end garments that last for years.
– “I don’t follow fashion trends because I find they stress women and contribute to waste,” she says.
Photo: Jonas Ahlstrøm.
Victoria Elisabeth
Victoria Elisabeth showcases the grey Hexagon T-shirt Dress, handmade from soft organic cotton. This versatile dress can be styled in more than three ways. Its design and luxurious material make it incredibly comfortable to wear. The minimalist look makes this timeless, one-size-fits-all dress a perfect addition to your capsule wardrobe. Ethically produced in New York.
Design by: Malaika New York. Model: Victoria Elisabeth. Photo: Jonas Ahlstrøm.
Anna-Luisa
Anna-Luisa is wearing a grey Hexagon Blouse made of soft organic cotton. This new, exclusive basic blouse features an elegant folded sleeve detail, adding a sophisticated touch to your outfit. Combining comfort and style, this blouse is a must-have for your wardrobe. She pairs it with black cotton leggings, carefully crafted from the finest GOTS-certified organic cotton in Izmir, Turkey. These leggings are a perfect addition to your capsule wardrobe.
Design by: Malaika New York. Model: Anna-Luisa. Photo: Jonas Ahlstrøm.
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