I met Stacy in high school in what seems like forever ago and over the years we have stayed in touch over the Internet. When she started posting up her designs a couple of years ago I was really intrigued by the intricate collage work of patterns, pictures and design that went into each project.
She runs her own website http://www.stacyrink.com/ and blog
http://stacyrink.wordpress.com/, and is always uploading new stuff for which is all unique and handmade. I wanted to feature her on the blog since I feel she really fits the Funk Fresh aesthetic, so I hit her up with a couple of questions to dig a bit deeper into her process and Inspiration.
When did you get started making purses and wallets and what was your inspiration?
I started making bags in 2003 when I moved to Wichita, KS. My art had previously been very minimal, large-scale sculptural presentations. When I moved, I didn't have the space, resources, or audience available to continue in that vein. Textile and fashion experimentation was old hat for me, but largely unexplored territory (as far as maximum creativity goes) so I began tinkering with process, pattern making, and design.
Inspiration finally hit while observing the locals and noting that while a majority would attend art/gallery openings and appreciate the work, they never became
art buyers yet all of them were decked out in trendy, labeled, and expensive gear. So I put two and two together and created a line of original accessories that featured one-of-a-kind artwork.
I really like that the designs are collageish yet each one really sticks with a theme, do you come up with a theme first or do you just start designing and end up with a theme?
At first, I was drawn to pop icons and went wild with 1970's nostalgia. There were lots of Godzilla's and Bruce Lee's and Barbarella's scattered around the studio. Since then, I've begun creating seasonal collections of about 250-300 pieces per set. For example, the Muselon Collection, which opens this Friday in Kansas City, is based entirely around the ancient Greek theory that Muses inspire all creativity. In this case, my muses were specific songs, albums, and spoken word. Each day in the
studio would start with the chosen piece of audio and I would listen to it continuously from conception to completion of each piece.
Can you let us in on a bit of your production process?
The production process is a fairly simple: several layers of heavyweight cotton are lined with roll adhesive and covered in lightweight cotton, then thrown into a heat press. The digital images are then printed and transferred onto the cotton in the same manner (heat press) and sealed with several layers of high-gloss varnish.
My love for deconstruction isn't apparent until the assembly begins; shunning traditional 'seamless' sewing methods, all of the bags are topstitched to showcase raw edges that unravel and fray, which is a great way for the client to really bond with their accessory as, over time, each bag becomes a direct reflection of how the owner treats it on a daily basis.
I really like the Ziggy Stardust Strapped Clutch and of course the Grandmaster Flash but do you have a favorite design you have done?
I've been carrying the same bag for years - it's a hobo called 'Ode to the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham'. Hey, if I can't own an old Caddy, I might as well carry one!
Do you have any favorite house wares in your home that you can tell us about?
Hands down, my favorite house ware is a set of four melamine plates by PopInk. Each plate features a semi-traditional Geisha holding a different bit of junk food, my favorite being a woman outfitted in a red kimono holding a chicken leg in her chopsticks. I got them at Dwelling Spaces in Tulsa, Oklahoma - http://www.dwellingspaces.net.
Thanks Stacy, please check out her website for some awesome unique gear you won't be disappointed.
check her out here
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