Meet Trina Turk
Written by Wendy Garraty
(www.trinaturk.com) “Trina Turk considers herself lucky on two counts. First because she knew at a fairly young age what she wanted to do when she grew up – to design clothing professionally and second, because she is succeeding at doing it and has successfully evolved what began as a women’s contemporary clothing line into a mini lifestyle brand.
Born in California and raised in the state of Washington, her mother taught Trina to sew when she was 11 years old. She studied apparel design at the University of Washington and took her first job with the Seattle-based sportswear manufacturer, Britannia Jeans. Trina went to Los Angeles, where she designed surf wear for Ocean Pacific. Other jobs designing mostly juniors followed.
Realizing that her resume wasn’t likely to bring offers to design a line of contemporary clothing for women, Turk’s next step was the launch of her own business. With her husband, then stylist, now photographer Jonathan Skow as partner, Trina Turk, the company, was born in 1995. In the same year her clothing was sold by Barney’s New York, Fred Segal, and Saks Fifth Avenue. With design and production headquartered minutes from Downtown Los Angeles in Alhambra California, Trina Turk’s wholesale sales topped $40 million in 2009.
Inspired by the multicultural mix, architecture, and landscape of Los Angeles and California, The Trina Turk Collection is full of the Season’s most casually sophisticated – and “must have” silhouettes. Trina’s philosophy is to create wearable, optimistic fashion that incorporates the best aspects of classic American sportswear. The collection has become known for an amazing pant fit and gorgeous signature prints. Swimwear was introduced in 2007 through a license with Apparel Ventures.
Trina has drawn constant inspiration from the cocktail party and poolside lifestyle of the desert, so it was fitting that the first Trina Turk boutique opened in March 2002 in Palm Springs, California in a modernist building designed by Albert Frey. The flagship store in Los Angeles is an airy ladylike pink-hued space. In December 2006, Trina Turk New York opened in the meatpacking district, bringing a splash of California color to the neighborhood. Trina Turk residential opened in May 2008 next door to the original boutique in Palm Springs. Boutiques at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California, Burlingame, California and Bal Harbour shops in Miami, Florida are the latest additions. A summertime only shop in East Hampton just finished it’s second summer season this year and will be back next year.
Spring 2009 brought the introduction of a printed indoor/outdoor fabric collection for the home with venerable home furnishings manufacturer Schumacher, and Trina Turk residential products, inclu
Clayton Gray Home loves Trina Turk. Below are just a few of her items we merchandise:
Geo Links Pillow in Citron and Gray
Geometric Tile Rug in Yellow and Gray
Geometric Tile Rug in Black and Gray
How would you bring Trina Turk into your home?
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