Creative Coalition
Tanya Ling's Debut Collection Marries Art and Fashion
August 12, 2002[~]For her first collection, illustrator-turned-designer Tanya Ling posed an intriguing question. What if Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli[~]infamous rivals in real life[~]had been friends? With that as her starting point, the London-based Ling produced a line of whimsical and appealing clothes that wear their historical references lightly. Tweed suits and coats (merci to the eminently practical Chanel!) happily exist alongside printed silk blouses and cashmere sweaters and scarves inspired by Surrealism (homage to the more dreamy, artistic Schiaparelli).
Ling, who was born in India and trained at Central St. Martin's, showed in London last spring, and Henri Bendel promptly bought up the line. According to the store's fashion director, Anna Garner, the line's best seller is a hand-framed intarsia cashmere cardigan that replicates the ironic "English Heritage Plaque" artwork done by Ling's good friend, the British artist Gavin Turk: proof that creative partnerships aren't just imaginary.
Tanya Ling is available at Henri Bendel in New York and Matches in London.
[~]Laird Borrelli
2:09:09 PM 
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