Designer Tidbits: Robin Zingone


The Fat Quarter Shop welcomes Robin Zingone to the Jolly Jabber. Robin’s latest fabric collection, Modern from Robert Kaufman Fabrics, is bold, mod and full of fun prints. This collection will awaken your inner go-go dancer and disco lover, leaving you inspired to create some 60's fun.



Q: What or who would you dedicate the Modern collection to? Do you have an inspiration board?
A: Modern is dedicated to Twiggy, a woman who totally changed fashion when she burst onto the scene. Never being much of a follower, I strongly admire leaders. Even though I am a visual person, my inspiration boards tend to be in my head. For Modern I visualized mini-skirts, A-line dresses in geometric prints, painted eyelashes, and cropped hair. White thigh high boots in patent leather, psychedelic lights and rock and roll. All things mod were on my mind.


Q: What is your favorite project using this collection?
A: My sewing projects tend to be in my head also, as I am rarely released from the grip of my computer. But let me tell you all the fabulousness I am creating in my head with this collection. First, I would make a lot of pillows for the window seat in my studio combining different patterns for the front with a contrasting pattern for the piping. Then I would make a knee length A-line jacket with one of the black and white patterns and line it with a colorful pattern. When I finished that I would make a mod dress for my four-year old niece with a dolly dress to match it. If I knew how to make slipcovers, Modern would be all over my living room, covering sofas, chairs, ottomans. You get the idea.


Q: If time travel became possible, what year would you want to be in?
A: 1964. Color, color, color. Fashion was geometric, stewardesses looked like models and cars had a lot of chrome. Architecture was modern and furniture was sleek. Prints reigned supreme. Bold blocks of color, over-sized flowers and paisley. Everything was technicolor. Conversation was sparkling, music was sexy and drinks were bubbly. 1964 was the beginning of the end of a beautiful era.



Q: If you had to change your first name what would you change it to?

I think Fabulous Zingone has a nice ring to it.

Q: What was your favorite childhood TV show?
A: That Girl. A single girl working in New York City. She inspired my path in life. My cousin Lynn and I could not wait to see what Ann Marie would wear every week. She was it, the sixties version of Carrie Bradshaw. It was an era of matchy, matchy and we loved it. We adored the hats, dresses, shoes and fishnet stockings accompanied by psychedelic color, false eyelashes, teased hair and accessories. The show was a fashionista's dream come true. Both my cousin and I went on to live and work in NYC, and we still love fashion!


Q: Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
A: One of my teachers at Parsons was Maurice Sendak, I got knocked off a dance floor by Bianca Jagger in Paris, met Steve Rubell at Studio 54 and danced next to Andy Warhol, Halston, Vitas Gerulaitis, Francesco Scavullo and Janice Dickenson. I met Christopher Reeves in his dressing room on Broadway, dined next to Martha Stewart, Reggie Jackson, Roman Polanski at one time or another, rode in an elevator with Jerry Orbach, Anna Wintour, KD Lang and Vera Wang, and know many contemporary artists and designers. My brother who lives in LA would still be unimpressed with my list, he bumps into celebrities every day.


Q: What is your favorite App to play on your phone?
A: If my inspiration boards and sewing projects are still in my head, trust me, I have no free time for Apps!


Q: If you could marry a technology, what would it be?
A: I love anything and everything Apple, from their products to their ads and right down to their packaging. Technology designed for the designer.

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