Photos By Jeremy & Claire Weiss
Her little girl hands, at age three, were molding and sculpting accessories with blocks of Fimo clay. This love of creating accessories that integrated pieces of herself continued throughout her teenage years, where she included other aspects of life into her work: horses, ballet, fashion and all things “sparkly.” Around the same time, she was introduced to Hello Kitty in the form of a little coin purse. A premonition?
Years later she moved to Europe, did a bit of fashion modeling and wore her designs to shoots where people bought them on the spot. In the same way that a kitty always ends up back on the front porch, Tarina Tarantino gave up the model lifestyle to pursue the art that gave her the fulfillment she craved. Her creations were colorful, inventive and for girls of any age. Soon enough, she wouldn’t be the only girl on the block with her playful accessories.
Re-enter the kitty. Hello Kitty, that is. Iconic and sugar-sweet, Tarina Tarantino’s collection (including our famous furry friend) have been creating a bit of a stir as of late. With the “Pink Head Collection,” Sanrio has given Tarina Tarantino the liberty to make Hello Kitty her own. With luscious pink locks to match her own and plenty of rainbows and sparkles, the collection includes bobby pins, bracelets, earrings and even a Gothic Lolita Hello Kitty (adorable!).
Now, Tarina and her business partner/husband, Alfonso Campos, have been splashed across the pages of People, InStyle and Glamour as well as featured on Access Hollywood, Oprah, and CNN. Although they found their beginnings in the Golden State, success has allowed them to expand to New York and Milan as well. Her website www.tarinatarantino.com also works as a portable store, with whimsical graphics that look more like a fairy tale than an online shop.
Hello Kitty has found a new attitude with her new ‘do. Tarina Tarantino has given our favorite character some edge.
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