I've already blogged about the twentyten's second collection, so I'm excited to have designer Nina Zilka participate in Paper-Doll's Designer Interview Series. Nina, along with Jeff Dodd and David J. Krause are the three innovative and daring designers that make up the independent Brooklyn based label.

Paper-Doll: How did you get into fashion design?
Nina - the twentyten: David and I became friends really early on when going to school at Pratt Institute, because we both shared an appreciation for more avant-garde fashion, although David was more into vintage at the time, and I think my work skewed a bit girlier. And we both admired one of Jeff's final pieces for our end of year review, and when we asked him about it he had some weirdo answer about being inspired by Dildos. So I think we all knew we'd be friends. And then one of my best friends Mariel invited me to do some pieces for a project she was working on in Mexico City, and asked if my two close friends (the boys) would want to be involved. We started designing pieces together for that show, which didn't end up happening, but morphed into something a lot more exciting when we realized that we love working together, and with three of us designing a piece with all of our input, the work was even better than any of us alone.

What is the first thing you designed (personally or professionally)?
The first thing we designed together was our website, our labels names, etc.

When did you launch your label?
We launched our label in the April of 2009.

What inspires you / your work?
Dead things inspire us as well as shapes in architecture.

Describe your SS’10 Collection.
Collection Two started with the desire to make these pieces where the hem turned into a strap that could be worn on the shoulder, or around the neck, like our shoulder dress, the drape gowns, and the men’s knit drape tank (which makes an awesome mini dress). Also, this idea of industrial wreckage. We found all these old nails, which were free, and used them in our Nail Harness and the Make-Out Guard...thriftiness often drives our creative process. And as always, we love the juxtaposition of drape and structure, as in our snail dresses, and the coral skirt.

What is your favourite piece from your SS’10 Collection?
Our favorites are the Make-Out Guard and the Nail Harness.

Did you have a personal soundtrack or a favourite album that you listened to while working on SS’10?
A disc of the mating calls of the Humped Back Whale.

What area of your work do you enjoy the most?
The end of designing a collection because that usually when we get to design the more avant-garde pieces.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
Doing something we love and working really hard and making very little money.

What is the most surprising thing that has happened to you as a designer?
What has been the most surprising thing for us has been meeting so many people that are so willing to help us. We never expected to get as much support as we have.

If you could collaborate with any designer / artist / musician / etc. on a single project, who would it be and what would you do?
Terri Timely, we would love to do a video with them.

If you could design a wardrobe for any one person (past/present/real/fictional), who would it be?
Grace Jones

How would you describe your own personal style?
Black with a splash of color and a dead thing.

What is your favourite item in your personal wardrobe?
Nina- the twentyten Collection One (FW ’09) Gator dyed long sleeve dress
Jeff- the twentyten black drape tank from Collection Two (SS ’10)
David- the twentyten navy python bow tie from Collection Two

Where do you shop for clothes when you're not wearing your own?
Oak, Topshop, EVA New York.

What is on your current fashion wishlist?
The future twentyten shoe line (launched date unknown, hopefully soon).

What fashion trend would you not be caught dead in?
We don’t like to say we don’t like things. When we think we don’t like something we often end up loving it the next week.

What is the one item that every woman should have in her closet?
Platform heels and a Bump It.

What is your favourite thing about the city you live in?
Despite New York being so expensive, there are some really fancy McDonalds like the one on 5th Ave and 14th Street. And We love the High Line!

If you couldn’t be a fashion designer, what other area of interest would you like to explore?
Nina would like to be a chief.
Jeff would be a personal trainer.
David would be an industrial Designer.

What is next for your label?
Hopefully we will expand the amount of stores that carry our label and a fragrance line.

Visit: the twentyten