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A tale of two sisters
Tulsans imprint their style
Jessie Zinke and Arin Robinson work on their designs in their studio. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World
By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
Published: 11/3/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 11/3/2009 10:23 AM
Arin Robinson's favorite color is blue. Jessie Zinke's? "Lavender and magma, especially paired together."
Where Arin said she wants "to be witty and a captivating storyteller," the talents Jessie covets are singing and drawing.
They each have their own traits and idiosyncrasies, just like any other pair of sisters would. And they've mixed and matched those individual traits with shared aesthetics to fashion quite a successful business.
Together, Arin and Jessie are the heart and style-conscious soul behind Zinke Design, a youthful, fashion-forward label of intimates and loungewear.
When we visited their office, a pleasantly peach-hued house near Sixth Street and Lewis Avenue, Arin and Jesse were already working on sketches for fall 2010.
"The patterns are already being made," said Jessie, telling us about a fall piece with double-face satin. She let us feel a swatch of the soft, hammered silk charmeuse, which they'll use for a PJ set.
Fashion calls
Sitting around a fabulous cracked-glass-top table, we had the chance to get to know the two of them, two Bishop Kelley High School alums — Arin, class of 1999; Jessie, '01. Arin went to the University of Oklahoma, Jessie attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.
In 2004, Arin founded Zinke Design as an event design company, producing galas and weddings. Later on, she and Jessie attended some trade shows and fell in love with the fabrics they saw, which fueled their
collective dream of launching a fashion label.
And in January 2009, they did — a colorful, silk-infused, lace-embellished business blending Jessie's sense of style and creativity with Arin's design background and business acumen.
Since their debut, stores in 17 states plus Ontario, Canada, have opened their doors to Zinke Design.
" 'Gossip Girl' is the goal," Arin said. She and Jessie are both fans of the popular CW TV soap. Considering their designs are at Fred Segal, a favorite celebrity shopping haunt, it's not a far-fetched aim. That boutique is one of 10 in California alone that carry Zinke.
Locally, you'll find it at Jara Herron in Center 1, Brookside; and Muse Intimates, the lingerie boutique at Utica Square. Both have the "Goodnight Lovely" eyemask, sweet-dreamy silk sleep inducers that come in light blue, lavender, peacock, orchid and a eyelid-heavy merlot.
Self-expression
Muse's owner, Deborah Croisant, is excited about Electric Girl, Zinke's spring/summer 2010 line that should be in stores next month.
"Their pieces incorporate the finest quality fabrics with cutting edge design," Croisant said. "As a result, the company has quickly risen to the top within the intimate apparel industry."
Among the fun-named, beg-to-be-worn spring offerings are the silk-blend "Night at the Drive-In" romper, which will be available in fuchsia or floral print with gold-button detail; "You Spin My Head Around" silk babydoll with plum lace; "After Party" silk halter-tie jumper in blue Boho print; and the silk "Dreamcatcher" robe in "moody" shades of both fuchsia and blue.
Continuing the silky romp are the "Disco Dropout" bralet and boyshort, which you can mix and match in magenta, peach, electric blue, mauve pink, black and red. It's part of the versatility, not to mention flat-out comfort, with which the sisters want Zinke to be synonymous — a way of encouraging self-expression, they said. Like pairing a "Disco Dropout" boyshort (you pick the color) with a "Goodnight Lovely" silk camisole, which comes in just as many colors as its disco-truant playmate.
Plus, "It's a daily luxury when you can wear silk," Arin said.
When asked what the future holds, now that they've introduced themselves to the intimate-apparel industry, neither sister seems too interested in expanding beyond the boudoir. It seems, at least for the time being, their goal is to keep channeling their creative energies into an increasingly popular lingerie and loungewear label.
That, "And then 'Gossip Girl,' " Arin said.
Jessie, the style-maker
Must-have accessory: “A
colorful print scarf and a great
pair of sunglasses.”
Best fashion investment: “My
snakeskin (Christian) Louboutins.
I’ve had them for years. I’ve
worn them so much that I’ve had
to get them repaired five times.”
Style is: “An artistic way of
expressing your personality.”
Ideal evening look: “Sass &
Bide’s ‘Circle the Room’ sequin
dress and a kick-ass pair of
heels.”
Main source of inspiration: “I
pull inspiration from anything
and everything.”
Icon of style and good taste:“Kate Bosworth.”
What arin does better than
me: “Mostly I think she’s a
much better planner. I can’t
plan anything. Also, she
always looks perfectly put together,
no matter what, while I
tend to look like a mess.”
Area of your job you most
enjoy: “What I love the most
are the photo shoots. They’re
always so exciting. And, of
course, getting to work with
my sis.”
Arin, the dreamer
Must-have accessory: “High,
high heels.”
Best fashion investment: “Once
you’ve worn a very nice pair of
shoes, it’s hard to go back.”
Style is: “Something you’re
born with.”
Ideal evening look: “A sexy
feminine dress that suits my
mood.”
Main source of inspiration:
“Runway collections, traveling,
coffee table books, springtime
and Jessie’s wardrobe.”
Icon of style and good taste:
“Sofia Coppola, Kelly Wearstler.”
What Jessie does better than
me: “Jessie is precise and
deliberate. I am a paint-with-a-
broad-brush kind of girl. Not
Jessie; her paintbrush is tiny
and can create the most perfect
details — it just takes forever.”
Area of your job you most
enjoy: “I love the anticipation
of our creative efforts coming
to fruition. We’re just on the
cusp of what we’ve dreamed
of, and doing it with my sister
is an impossible dream. I love
it!”
Jason Ashley Wright 581-8483
jason.wright@tulsaworld.com
By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
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