VMSD - January 2015 - (Page 47)
DESIGNER PROFILE
mannequins + forms
RI CH A R D C ADAN , FA I R F I EL D, CO N N .
A M C CO LO RG R AP H I X , E L M O N T E , C AL I F.
Tasha Kusama knows the human form. The creative director
at CNL Mannequins (Buena Park, Calif.) earned a degree in fine
art and illustration from the Art Center College of Design in
Pasadena, Calif., and spent some time as a figurative painter and
figure-drawing teacher. "For artists, the human figure can be the
most challenging thing to tackle and do well," she says. "But I
was so familiar with the subtle nuances of the body that it was a
natural segue into the industry."
It's those subtle nuances that have made Kusama's work
at CNL so popular among big-name retailers like Guess and
Trina Turk. Her Muse collection of female and male abstract
mannequins - slicked in a polished black translucent finish
with copper-chromed hands - are standouts at Uniqlo. And at
GlobalShop 2013, a display of the matte white, translucent Gossamer Girl line, that features a glossy opaque ombre finish, garnered a gushing mention from fashion-trend forecaster WGSN
via Tumblr. (Not surprisingly, the Great Gatsby-inspired booth
display won Best in Show at that year's trade event.)
Kusama's fondness for mixing materials or exploring unconventional finishes is her way of remaining one step ahead in a
competitive industry. "Just like styles change rapidly in the fashion world, so do the people who wear them," she says. "Although
some mannequins can be timeless, there's a balance between
being timeless, forward-thinking and relevant."
CNL's latest collections include the contemporary and edgy
Now, and the chic Swan line, which the company will showcase
at GlobalShop this year. Also on the horizon for 2015, CNL plans
to launch a new men's haberdashery-style collection and a fresh
kids' line, while it continues its exploration of different materials
and finishes.
There's rarely a dull moment in mannequin design, though
some outsiders may misunderstand some of Kusama's job perks.
"There is sometimes the assumption that I can drive in the carpool lane," she says, "which would be nice in L.A." -Lauren Mang
SP K , LO S A N G ELE S
True to Form
TASHA KUSAMA
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
CNL MANNEQUINS
"I have always
been drawn
to good, clean
design: Eames,
Rams, Bauhaus,
Marimekko,
Noguchi. I grew
up with these
names, and
they've become
part of my natural
vernacular."
VMSD.COM
|
JANUARY 2015
47
http://www.VMSD.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of VMSD - January 2015
Contents
From the Editor
Editorial Advisory Board
Props + Decoratives
Lighting
Stuart Fingerhut Design’s Stuart Fingerhut
Mannequins + Forms
Cnl Mannequins’ Tasha Kusama
Materials + Wallcoverings
Artistic Tile’s Nancy Epstein
Furniture
Fixtures
Flooring
Signage + Graphics
Best of the Rest
Lasting Impression
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