_ABOUT ME, TINA
When asked my nationality, as a young small squirt of a girl, I’d reply matter of factly, “my great great great grandfather on my Dad’s side was a Cowboy, and my great great great grandfather on my Mum’s side was a Viking”. Now I just say, “I’m a fruit salad”.
The Tina Sparkle [T*] brand represents my allegiance to these roots. Part of my heart belongs in New Mexico, USA, ‘the land of enchantment’, where my ancestors mingled with their Indian neighbours, and where I lived for part of my 20's. Another branch of my heart is firmly embedded in Sollerön, Sweden. A beautifully wild island jewel that quietly sparkles on the glittering lake Siljan. Known as ‘the island of the sun’, this magical island, rich in folklore, is not only a sacred burial site for Viking warrior’s, but for countless generations of my family. Home to our little summer cabin, this haven that fills me with infinite happy childhood nostalgia, resides within the Province of Dalarna, aptly known as ‘the heart of Sweden’.
I now want to share my love affair of these sacred places with you through my collections.
_ABOUT TINA SPARKLE (T*)
Male or female, young or old, broad or petite, I design 100% cashmere dip and tie dye shawls for the people and EVERYONE [and every fruit salad] is invited. T* celebrates a high quality, functional accessory, the cashmere shawl, and injects a contemporary facelift to this classic piece. Life is a one way ticket! Throw on some colour! Add a little flavour and fizz to your look without compromising on quality. This is the T* ethos.
Each shawl is made from 100% ultra fine, lightweight, divinely soft, diamond weave cashmere. Every piece is designed by myself and my trusty colour chart, and then hand-dipped carefully, one by one, by the Kaistha family in Kashmir, India. No two scarves are ever alike. Just like you and me.
T* was established in 2008 while I was out working in India and recognised that there was a gap in the market for luxury scarves. At the time, my choices were something plain or something very ethnic. There was definitely potential for a contemporary chic twist.
[Drum roll]
T* dip and tie dye cashmere shawls were born! Christened with my nickname, T* has been a grassroot shawl movement ever since. In a world where massive brands dominate, T* is okay with being an acorn. Perhaps we’ll turn into that oak tree. Perhaps not. I enjoy nurturing it day by day. I'm a one woman orchestra and I like it that way! I want to keep my beloved mini brand personal, and talk to my clients one on one.
After 10 years in bustling Notting Hill, T* HQ can be found in my studio at home in West Sussex. My studio is always open for visits! Cool cat Cara Delevingne, and thespian Kate Hudson have both personally paid a visit. Rock legend Nile Rogers, my favourite style icon Nicole Richie, friend Clemmie Winkler and my beloved Mother are all fans. Click on the T* SHAWL OF FAME to see who else has been sparkled.
Top department store, Fred Segal in LA, prestigious boutiques such as Curve in LA and NY, and The Cross in London, along with supercool lifestyle stores, Skandium and Tom Dixon, have all been drawn into T*'s orbit and become stockists. Now it’s your turn to join the movement!
We aren’t reinventing the wheel here, nor launching into space (watch this space),
BUT!
I hope you find T* delivers something that is not only of exceptional quality, super soft and luxuriously warm,
but a one-off, hand-dipped treasure, that makes you feel
totally unique, chic, understated, but undeniably cool, because that is sort of how we all want to feel. I do anyway!
