Twinkle By Wenlan

by Lauren

My time at Twinkle thus far has been a compilation of so many different experiences— surviving the sample sale, design development, rendering flats, sketching design ideas…etc. When I started this internship I was unsure of what to expect, especially considering this is my first design internship. All I knew was that I wanted it to be a learning experience that went beyond the fundamentals of the classroom. That is exactly what this internship has become for me. I don’t think there has been one day when I haven’t learned something from the people here. It might not always pertain to fashion design, but I certainly value everything I have gained from this experience. Plus, who doesn’t love an internship where there are always snacks and you don’t have to run for coffee unless it is your own.

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With the bombardment of sample sales and bargains filling the city – temptation is ever present. This year I will put my blinders on and my new years resolution will be to save money $$$.

Joanna

People who are familiar with my knitting books or attend my knitting workshops are usually curious at my choice of casting on method.  Unless a trim will be added later on to the base row, I almost make no exception but to do cable casting on. “Why?” People ask.

Besides the obvious advantage - it is “steady”, has a thick, loop-based edge, provides enough stretch - I rather like the resemblance to that of a sweater made on a knitting machine.

“Why do you like hand knits to look machinery?” Hand knitters almost scream.

That’s the moment I remember why I design the clothes I do. I love machine-made, affordable clothes to have artsy, crafty details and handmade clothes to have a unified “factory” look.

Before I started my own line, my favorite pastime was shopping at flea markets and second hand stores.  My treasured finds include a cream Chanel suit from 1950, a 40 year-old black Balenciaga dress, and an Yves Saint Laurent shirt dress.  I take to examining the garment inside out and truly appreciate the handiwork and attention to details.  I also have accumulated tons of no name vintage finds with holes in the lining, broken zippers, and several skirts that feel un-hemmed.  I like these vibrant clothes.  I find common sense intelligence and vivid creativity in these label-less middle class vintage.  They remind me of all these beautiful clothes my mom and her friends used to wear when I was young.  They also remind me of how most of my friends live their lives - they work, support themselves, and they love fashion.

When I visit the factory where Twinkle garments are produced, I am fascinated by how my chunky sweaters are made - from woolly hair fiber being combed and processed, then dyed and spun into yarn ready for knitting a sweater.  I enjoy this behind-the-scenes part as much as when I am creating a new design in my studio or presenting a new collection on the runway. They all have a similar magic quality- to make things out of thin air.

So for someone like me, to find out there is a way to cast on so a one by one rib will look completely “machinery” without a loop of the base row, I’m positively thrilled!  Exactly how will that be accomplished?  Will continue in next month’s Knitting 101…!

Wenlan

Snowcap Hat and Peony Scarf

by Christina Scarlett

Today I colored- don’t laugh. No, not in a run-of-the mill, children’s coloring book but for some wonderful new sketches. My eyes were truly put to the test with having to pick the right colors. The pressure was on, eye brows furrowed, pen, marker, color pencil at hand; I was ready to tackle this task.  Watching me was like watching a surgeon perform a beautiful procedure, or you know, like a nervous intern coloring in sketches. My task was completed and I think it went pretty well. Dan was also coloring and his looked like a classical, intricately pieced together portrait, but I digress.  Can’t wait to do it again, coloring is awesome.

Sigh.

Christina at the design table

By Sayumi

Kaiten Sushi (conveyor belt sushi) has been popular in Japan at least for 20 years now.
It started as a place you can eat cheap but not so good sushi.
Sushi stayed on the conveyor hours and hours if no one picked it. When it get dried, they sprayed water so it could look fresh…
But Kaiten Sushi business has been highly evolutionized now.
You can place your order using touch screen on your table, and,  this is the most amazing part,
sushi comes to your table on an express train. It’s very entertaining.
I recorded sushi going to other people’s table. ( The train came from behind, so I couldn’t get it coming to my table.)

Click the link below to see the video.

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Fashion Week at Bryant Park was amazing. The atmosphere was almost overwhelming. Most of the models were running around back and forth from hair to makeup, while some of them were creeping around the exits trying to escape. Naturally, I didn’t want any of them to get away, so I was stationed near one of the exits watching for any runaway models. I wasn’t there very long when this 14 year-old boy comes walking in with his parents.  “What is this kid doing here? He doesn’t belong back here…” I thought to myself. It seemed really odd that anyone under the age of 18 would be backstage at a fashion show, but he was dressed really nicely, so I figured he must be tagging along with one of his parents. (Plus, he arrived at like 7:30 am. What 14 year-old wants to get up that early for a fashion show?) He disappeared after a while and I went about the morning helping everyone with various tasks from stapling brochures to positioning the gift bags with exact precision. What a morning. After the show was over, I ran to Grand Central and caught an 11:30 train back to Purchase College and made it just in time for my 12:30 class.

Later that night, I was surfing the internet, researching the buzz around Twinkle’s fashion show and as it turns out, the 14 year old that was roaming around backstage was actually Mark Indelicato from ABC’s Ugly Betty. Who would have guessed?

Ugly Betty Star is Undercover Backstage

The fashion industry is known for its obsession with thinness and its accompanying estranged relationship with eating.  However, we at Twinkle have a different fixation concerning food, specifically sweets.  Granted, we try to eat healthily (doesn’t everyone?).  BUT. Who can resist those tempting oatmeal chocolate chip cookies sitting in the middle of the office?  Or that cupcake topped off with illegally delicious strawberry frosting?  Or that chocolate covered donut filled with some sort of mysterious custard cream?  Certainly not us!  And really, it would be quite rude to ignore sweets completely and just let them sit there.  Our parents raised us with better manners than that.

A box of Crumbs cupcake which we finished in a second the other day!
picture courtesy of crumbs bakeshop. http://www.crumbs.com/

The day has finally come. It’s the last show in Bryant Park and we’re backstage preparing to ensure everything is ready by 6:00pm. As models slowly trickle in, one by one over a span of hours, we check them in and move them through hair, makeup, and nails as quickly as possible. Suddenly it’s 5:50pm and we still have five girls that need their makeup done. They’re calling first looks and all the other models are already changing. Will we finish in time? Will we make it? As these questions run through my head, the girls are already done and putting on their first ensemble. Someone calls out to clear the area of all non models and stylists. That’s my cue…time to fight for a good spot to stand so I can see the show. The lights go out. Then, the spotlight hits the stage and the music starts. As I start to feel the music, the first model hits the runway. The show flashes before my eyes as all the models walk out onto the runway to do their final walk. Everyone starts clapping uncontrollably, and I know the show was a success. It feels great to be a part of all the excitement

Model getting final touch up!

This is my second experience attending a fashion show during my internship at Twinkle by Wenlan. It has been a fantastic experience for me and has allowed me to understand more aspects of the industry. I am especially glad to have been able to join in both fashion shows during New York Fashion Week. These allowed me to participate in different events that featured both the Spring and Fall collections. This year’s work differs from my previous experience in that I am currently working to invite the Chinese-language press to our show. It is the first time Twinkle by Wenlan has reached out to the media from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. Because of Wenlan’s Taiwanese background, many Chinese media are especially interested in her personal experience, the story of how she struggled to make it in New York, in addition to Twinkle’s line of apparel. Working with Chinese media has been enjoyable, and the media outlets have been friendly and responded favorably. Hopefully, this media campaign will result in more people in Asia knowing about Twinkle by Wenlan and fall in love with the designer and her products – as I have.

Wenlan interviewed by International Press

Fall 2010 was my first experience on the ‘other’ side of the runway during Fashion Week. Before the show, I wasn’t too sure what to expect and came in a bit apprehensive. Backstage at Twinkle’s Fall 2010 Fashion Show was probably one of the craziest places I’ve ever been. It’s organized chaos; models are popping in and out, press are backstage snapping pictures and trying to get interviews and there is a constant stream of people in and out offering their best wishes and getting the backstage scoop on the show. Wenlan’s dog, Milan, was also backstage checking out the action!

My first task was checking in on the models backstage and making sure that we knew where they were at all times. Watching models backstage is similar to babysitting- they’re always running out to smoke a cigarette, rotating around the make up and hair stations; you have to keep an eagle eye on 26 girls! I was a little panicked at first because some of the models were running late from an earlier show. Eventually, they all wafted in from their various earlier jobs and got settled into hair and make up and my heart rate slowed down!

Then it was time for the show to start. I was backstage with Wenlan and the Assistant Director helping make sure that the girls were in the right order. The run-of-show is very specific and is deliberated over for a long time before, so it’s important that it’s right! If not, the program is wrong and the looks don’t tell the right story. Since girls are changing into one or two more looks, it’s a constant, heart pounding process of making sure they’re in the right order. I barely got to watch the show as I was so busy making sure that the girls were lined up correctly and we had everyone!

Finally, after the last girl walked out onto the runway for the finale, I could catch my breath and my hands stopped shaking. And I loved every second of it!

By: Stephanie

30 mins before the show starts!