Twinkle By Wenlan

The Sunday before my first day as an intern, I spent hours agonizing over what to wear to my first Monday at a new company.  I didn’t want to be to overdressed or underdressed, so I put careful consideration into everything including clothing, jewelry, shoes and a bag.  Upon walking into Twinkle realized that everyone was very welcoming and although fashionable there was also a comfort factor in the way everyone dressed.

 

 

I got the internship! So far, I have designed jersey knit tops, tagged garments for upcoming collections, made labels. And to think that it’s only been my first week!  I think interning for Twinkle by Wenlan will be a great (and productive) learning experience.

 

 

Ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com

A knitter’s haven! Knitters are allowed to upload photos of their

projects, maintain blogs, and contact other members via message board.

 

Craft

http://www.craftzine.com

The company that brings you Craft: Magazine now has a Craft: Blog,

revealing an expansive collection of knitting and sewing DIY projects.

 

Knitty Magazine

http://knitty.com

Web-based knitting magazine that brings you innovative patterns and

knitting resources for free! Remember to stop by the Coffeeshop!

 

Buss Buss 

http://www.bussbuss.com/bussbuss_articles/articles/001705.php

Colors are fun. But, Buss Buss shows you how classic

black and white can be just as fun too!

 

Design-Milk

http://design-milk.com/twinkle-twinkle

For those obsessed with geometric prints and abstract patterns,

this blog is a dream come true.

 

Oh Joy!

http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/2008/05/twinkle-underfo.html

A beautiful blog that brings you the ideal blend of quirky and

feminine home products!

 

Bandelle

http://www.bandelle.com/blog/2008/03/25/double-take-carries-apartme

Sex And The City

Tips on how to complete a Sex and the City inspired bedroom for

those who demand more than great fashion!

 

My Fashion Life

http://www.myfashionlife.com/archives/2008/03/25/spring-shopping-twinkle-start-2-melt-dress/

Our very own talent, Angie Omata brings you the latest fashion news,

including a Twinkle dress that will melt your heart away.

This is the 3rd time I visited Columbus, OH. This time, I finally found time to shop the vintage stores and see the city.

Mad4mod is probably one of the best vintage shops in the country. The color-coordinated display and well-mannered sales assistants made me feel like I was walking onto a Pleasantville movie set. I ended up getting 3 skirts all in bold geometric pattern. With much inspiration, I cannot wait to wear them with a mixed print crispy high-waist big skirt and oxford shirt.

Katzinger’s in German Village has whimsical interior and excellent   food. They should be voted Eco citizen of the year with their recycled signs in the store. Nowadays, I feel more and more guilty each time I polish my nail, use Lycra fabric, or take a cab somewhere with Milan. But, Katzinger’

s whimsical design and friendly tone do not make you feel being preached, but want to try harder to be green. After finishing the Sticky Bum (make sure you order it grilled) and my 2nd cup of coffee, I managed to throw the plates and cups into their designated trash cans. I was fulfilled.

 

The well-signed, whimsical interior of Katzinger’s.

I had the most memorable Sticky Bum with coffee for breakfast at Katzinger’s.

 

There are many different things that PR interns do. One of the tasks we do almost everyday is send out clothing samples to magazines. If an editor sees a Twinkle dress in the look book that she likes and wants to use in a spread, she sends a request to us. We then get the piece from the showroom and send it over to the magazine. Trust me, it’s an important job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my second semester at Twinkle as a PR Intern.   One semester was just not enough for me.  Leon takes such good care of his “girls” and keeps us in the zone with plenty of coffee and chocolate. And, he brings in the good stuff – only Godiva will do in this office!   We do have to work hard though.  Just last week we reorganized the stock room and now I know to be wary when called in the morning and tells you not to wear heels.  To be fair, he did keep us energized with Green Tea Frappacinos, so there was a lot of laughter to be had.  That was definitely a day when I wished there was another guy on our team, although Kathy seems to have super powers and can lift boxes twice her size.  Maybe I just need to not wear three-inch heels to work?  Nah!

I am so glad that I have stayed with Twinkle for longer than one semester because it is amazing to see how a fashion design company is consistently busy.  Fashion Week is the major event that the public sees, but for fashion folk it seems like there is no real slow time.  No rest for the wicked I guess!  Fashion Week was very exciting though.  It was fun for me to feel like I was making a real contribution to helping the show happen and when the audience is buzzing, the lights go down and the music starts you are so proud to be part of something so special.

 

One of my favorite parts of twinkle by wenlan’s fall 08’ runway show in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, besides our fantastic fall collections of course, is the music, especially Asobi Seksu’s Strawberries. The song sounds like cotton candy. It has sweet and echoing lyrics in Japanese. The definite drumbeats draw you into a strawberry field on a sunny Sunday afternoon. And suddenly, you’re lost in it. 

 

The strawberry field stretches out like a red sky, and you can hear the strawberries yelling if you care to listen. “Don’t forget about me!” they yell. Our runway show has ended that day on Bryant Park, but like most of the audience, I won’t forget that cold winter afternoon. “Don’t forget about me!”

 

 

the strawberries reminded me.

With load voices they are calling

“Don’t forget me”, they scream

–Asobi Seksu, Strawberries

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurant Modern’s installation tops, the art of window dressing

 

Mike Kelly’s Untitled consists of found afghans and stuffed dolls. The artist claims, “The materials in this piece are not meant to suggest childhood comforts but were chosen instead of their formal elements- the afghans, for example, for their abstract patterns.” The artist works in performance, music, books, and installations. I’m not familiar with his other works; but this piece, with its colors and patterns, speaks articulately for the vulnerable lands under war.

 

 

 

In the exhibition, Books, books, books, books, books, books and books, Brian Bellott collected sixty-six children’s books of different sizes from different thrift shops and flea markets and “re-worked” them during “collage parties” with fellow artists. Every one of the books offers an independent wisdom and brings an artistic element to the collage. The exhibition reminded me of my art class back in grade school.  In elementary school, we were asked to make drawings for a booklet in art class. I made up my own story, so that I could continue on some rootless plot, while develop imaginary objects and characters every week. These books by American artist Brian Bellott speak to me in a familiar tone from my childhood memory. Viewers can instantly feel the intimacy.

 

“Handmade” has such a commercial meaning now that we forget the happiness that comes from making beautiful things with your own hands. Here, Brian Bellott had me cruise through pages of my personal memory – back when the commercial world was unknown –back when my imagination consumed me and my own art inspired me. Back then, creating was humble and shame-free.

 

 

  

All the books are displayed on a family heir loom table.

 

    

 

 

 

The content of each book is video taped and shown next to the table.

 

The designer discusses her inspiration and process of creating the Holiday Jewelry collection.

 Twinkle Jewels was born with the goal to make costume jewelry that will go with our ready to wear collection. 3 years after the first twinkle necklace was created, Twinkle Jewels has evolved into an independent and complicated product line, without losing its quirky and sophisticated character.

In twinkle Jewels’ holiday collection, I pictured a necklace to look like stars being tossed back into the sky- shiny yet slightly buried in the blue velvety night. It should compliment our holiday collection in an unexpected way- echoing a moody Impressionist print, while softening the sharp geometric lines. The Starry Night necklace was therefore created.

To start, we need matte and semi sparkle blue, black, grey and antique silver beads. But the finished look should be more modern instead of exotic.

 

 

What? What more do you want? I have major sunburn, so the press is going to have to wait. Thanks, Bye.