From the monthly archives:

February 2011

Spring Fashion Arrivals + Textile Art at TRUNK, Brooklyn

by Mo on February 28, 2011

Get your spring shopping started, meet a darling designer or two, and see some beautiful textile work by Liz Burow starting this Thursday at TRUNK in Dumbo. Read more about Darling Radka Design, one of the founding partners of TRUNK, in this interview over in the TRUNK blog, and keep up with their latest updates over in Facebook.

The collections at TRUNK feature unique women’s wear, jewelry, accessories, art and furniture, all locally designed and manufactured. The new store itself provides a backdrop for the products, making a bold statement that “style can be created and found locally.

Radka Design on Smashing Darling

What is your favorite detail of your designs?
As with many of my designs, while I am in the middle of creating a piece, I suddenly see a inspiring new shape emerge! I enjoy putting pieces together in unexpected ways, such as in the styles with interlocking circles. In fact the very foundation of my art: metal+crochet exemplifies my desire to create unexpected harmony. I also like starting with flat shapes and finishing with pieces sewn or hammered into 3-dimensions.(Full interview here…)

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San Diego Indie Fashion: Stacie May at Project Ethos Tonight

by Mo on February 25, 2011

Whimsical Painterly Romper

Look below at this lovely bit of feedback Darling Stacie May received! Love it… just a reminder of the personal service you are likely to get when you support an independent designer.

If you are in San Diego go see Stacie May and other six other emerging designers tonight at Project Ethos. We’d love to see pics from the night so if you go send us your updates. Bloggers, supporters, or party-goers – all perspectives are fine by us! Most importantly, take a moment for this mini-interview and tour of Stacy’s home and creative workspace –Place: Stacy Taylor.

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Darling Update: K.Hendrix, Fall 2011 Lookbook

by Mo on February 24, 2011

In Darling-land we are online, um… a lot. Some days we go batty, others we are saved by the music. Today I noticed I converted a blog post by Darling K.Hendrix into a bit of fashion poetry in my mind (RTW Fall 2011 Collection lookbook). I bet she won’t mind, she’s lovely and so are her designs. It must have been meant to be, look – the words made a heart. I love the new knit/shred pieces and endless love for a the reclaimed sparkle in her collections. Catch some K.Hendrix on sale in her Darling boutique, and check out Fall ‘11 below.

Gorgeous Gritty
recycled leathers, hand-dyeing.
Metallics: pewter, copper and bronze,
Knits hand-shredded, beaded, accents.

A Philosophy:
Reclaimed, recycled materials
Perfectly imperfect, and
one-of-a-kind.

always

Photos: Jeffrey Williams Boring

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Indie Fashion Finds: New at Smashing Darling This Week

by Mo on February 24, 2011

Itsok, Retro Bag Skirt

Lorie Lynn Designs, Etched Brass Cuff

Devora Libin Jewels, Hematite Hoops

Vanessa Avellar, Leopard’s Collar

L.A. Clique Co, King of Kings

Julie Seidell Jewelry, Blue Agate Pendant

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Knit to Commemorate: Open Call, MicroRevolt146+

by Mo on February 23, 2011

The overall goal of the project is to have a maker-class who may consider themselves DIYers, on-line merchants or craft hobbyists in the context of a larger economy and labor movement… MicroRevolt.

Join MicroRevolt146+ to commemorate the victims of the Triangle Waist Factory fire for the upcoming centennial, March 25, 2011. Grab their pattern here, or design your own. If you participate please let us know! Comment below, or email us a picture of your armband to mo@smashingdarling.com.

Please forward widely…

microRevolt has launched a new craft action called 146+. The craft action involves participants knitting an armband enumerating the fire victims from the Triangle Waist factory that catalyzed an international labor movement exactly 100 years ago this March. The project connects the factory fires to the ones that have taken place in Bangladesh, where workers are making consumer apparel for Walmart, JCPenny and H&M. The overall goal of the project is to have a maker-class who may consider themselves DIYers, on-line merchants or craft hobbyists in the context of a larger economy and labor movement. So we hope for 146 or more participants to stand in solidarity with Workers United (workers in hospitality, food service, gaming, apparel, etc.). Volunteering to knit a simple numbered armband would contribute to the action even if you cannot make it to the factory site on March 25th, 2011 on the centennial.

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Meet a Darling: Emily Watson @ American Craft Council Show

by Mo on February 22, 2011

This weekend in Baltimore over 700 independent designers present their creations at the American Craft Council Show and Darling Emily Watson will be in the mix (booth 1003A). Go find her and say hello for us if you can! We’ll be sending her some caffeinated vibes as we know how tiring a weekend like this can be. I remember the air feeling thick with creativity when I worked this show (with Dina Varano). It felt as if a lightening bolt of inspiration could strike at any moment, zapping it’s way through the entire building — of course I loved that vibe…. Go see for yourself, full details here; either way take a digital stroll through Emily’s studio below and over on her Facebook fan page.

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Chicago Local Fashion: Kate Boggiano Trunk Show – 30% off!

by Mo on February 18, 2011

Do you have things you collect? Art, antiques, shells (we do!)… Chicago-based personal shopper and wardrobe assistant Julie Watson thinks you should think of your closet this same way: create a collection in your closet — we love it! She has a knack for helping people curate their clothing collection, and this weekend she hosts a trunk show for Darling Kate Boggiano to do just that. Of course we love the idea of closets everywhere having multiple Darling components that are perfect – just for you.

Kate Boggiano, Maggie Jacket

Shop Kate Boggiano on Smashing Darling

Helping you.
Appreciating your unique style.
Finding flattering fits.
Respecting your budget.
Creating clarity in your closet.
Having fun.

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Brooklyn Indie Fashion: Williamsburg Fashion Weekend

by Mo on February 18, 2011

It’s that time again, Williamsburg Fashion Weekend kicks off tonight and continues tomorrow night. Click on the image for all the details, including the designer and music line-up; past WFW coverage right here. Happy weekend darlings!

Williamsburg Fashion Weekend’s 8th season will be held on February 18th and 19th at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. WFW provides a platform for young and emerging fashion designers who push the boundaries of design, presentation, production, ultimately re-evaluating the fashion industry as a whole.

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Do You Know Where Your Clothes Were Made?

by Mo on February 18, 2011

Handcrafted cocktails and shopping handmade, local fashion on the factory floor it’s produced on…now that is smashing. We so wish we could be there. Go get to know the Evans Group @ The Factory if you are on the left coast this weekend!

the evans group consists of fashion development and production houses for independent and emerging designers. specializing in high-end designs, services range from making patterns and samples for the runway and showroom, to filling small production orders without minimums.

in vertically-integrated studios in the arts district of los angeles, and the soma district of san francisco, designers work directly with founder, jennifer evans, and her teams of highly-skilled craftsmen, from the development of the collections and samples, to personalized small volume production.

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