Fashion is art and designer Trina Turk joined forces with The Decorative Arts and Design Council (DADC) of LACMA on May 23rd to raise funds for the acquisition of new items for the museum.

In recent years, Asian American designers have come to the forefront of the fashion industry. Trina Turk, whose Japanese mother taught her how to sew at a young age, was ahead of the curve. Founding her fashion company in 1995 along with her husband, photographer Jonathan Skow, Turk’s first line was immediately picked up by major department stores such as Barney’s New York and Saks Fifth Avenue. Since then, her company has expanded to 11 deliveries per year, including a men’s line and home décor.

Turk cites mid-century art as inspiration and the evening featured a discussion between Turk and Bobbye Tigerman, Assistant Curator of the Decorative Arts and Design. Tigerman’s current exhibition “California Design, 1930-1965: ‘Living in a Modern Way’” runs until June 3 and is LACMA’s first major exhibition of mid-century modern California design. When asked what one piece Turk would take home from the exhibit if she could, Turk joked that she would take the entire Eames house, of which the living room was recreated for the exhibit.

An avid collector, Turk discussed many of her favorite artists and designers which include Claire Falkenstein and Jack Boyd.  She is also fond of the jewelry featured in the Lisa Cliff collection. Turk owns two breathtaking houses, the “Ship of the Desert” in Palm Springs and the “Schapiro House” in Los Feliz. A long-time supporter of the arts, Turk donated 20 percent of the evening’s proceeds to support the DADC’s efforts.

I was luckily enough to catch a few words with Turk. She believes that growing up around Asian household objects definitely influenced her personal style. She sees many of the minimalist tendencies of modernist design as stemming from Japanese roots.

What’s up next for Trina Turk? She has three upcoming fall lines—one inspired by the work of Sonia Delaunay, a Hollywood Heroines collection, and finally, an English Eccentrics line. Click here to shop Turk’s current collection.

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Tags: art, design, events, Fashion, Lacma, shopping, trina turk

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