Ynnub Takes the Old and Makes It New
Anamyn Turowski doesn’t mind if you steal her idea.
The designer and founder of clothing labels Claudette, Claude, Ynnub and Ynop uses recycled garments to create one-of-a-kind clothing.
She hopes others will follow her lead. “The more people are recycling, the better,” Turowski said. “I think there is room for everybody because we’ll all come to it differently.”
Turowski started her first line, Claudette, in 1994. It caters to an “older-sister” set and includes recycled cashmere sweaters and lace accents for Fall. Her younger and funkier women’s line, Ynnub (bunny spelled backward) was on-again and off-again for six years, until last year. That’s when Paula Scolaro came on board to work on the women’s line full time. For Fall 2005, they launched the Ynnub men’s line, which was picked up by the Lisa Kline Men store located on paparazzi-packed Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Ynnub’s men’s clothing is simple and easy to wear, with a genuine vintage look. Wholesale price points range from $52 for a novelty tee with built-in thermal long sleeves to $69 for a Western shirt with quilt patches and $79 for puffy vests with flannel or camouflage shoulder detail.
All of the pieces are one-of-a kind, but specific types of tees are available, such as a novelty printed shirt with the Harley-Davidson logo on it or concert- themed tops. Vintage T-shirts are made into patches sewn across the front of a polo shirt or on the back of a woven Western shirt.
All of Turowski’s men’s and women’s collections are made from vintage garments, but they aren’t necessarily inspired by vintage clothing. The designer treats the recycled pieces as fabric to create modern silhouettes. “I’m taking what is a pair of pants and making it into a dress,” Turowski said. “I’m trying to remake it into something brand spanking new.”
For information, contact the Cristina Angarola Showroom in the Cooper Design Space, suite 400, at (213) 489-0072. —Rhea Cortado
