Last October, at Andy Warhol’s former studio on Wooster Street in New York, Marina Testino held an event to launch Point Off View, her conceptual brand that celebrates diverse creative perspectives. The night was centered around the debut of an inaugural clothing collection, EDITION 0, made up of a denim jacket available in three washes, a fiesta military jacket in three colorways, and a shirtdress embellished with wordplay messages. “Each piece is designed to be a classic, staple style that works on anyone,” said Testino. “I wanted the phrases to embellish these blank canvas pieces.”
That evening, Testino welcomed artists with varying practices to display their work while guests enjoyed Peruvian drinks and snacks. “I wanted to represent the merging of art and fashion by using this iconic, abandoned space,” she said. To learn more about Point Off View, her Peruvian roots, and her passion for art, Whitewall spoke with Testino.
Courtesy of The Society Management and Marina Testino.
WHITEWALL: You worked with a selection of emerging artists in Point Off View to showcase the merging of art and fashion—James Hsieh, Militza Rodriguez, Suzanne Saroff, Mitchell Cooper, Scherezade Garcia, Araceli Segura, and Catherine Lan. Tell us a bit about how you came across those artists, and why you chose to include them.
MARINA TESTINO: Point Off View partners with emerging artists and gives them a platform to display their work in this collaboration of art and fashion. I found these artists in different ways: some through friends, some through exhibits I visited, and some through Instagram. But the idea was to have artists from different backgrounds and operating in diverse mediums.
EDITION 0.
Courtesy of Marina Testino.
WW: Tell us about your ready-to-wear capsule collection. It encourages cherishing varying perspectives rather than confronting them. How so? What do the texts mean?
MT: I focused this collection on somewhat of a rebellion against the constriction of freethinking in modern society. Today, there is so much judgment and narrow-mindedness, it’s difficult to say what you want to say. I made the collection so you don’t have to say your thoughts—you can wear them boldly!
EDITION 0.
Courtesy of Marina Testino.
WW: Your rebellious sayings and creative nature are refreshing and honest. Where did this come from?
MT: I think today, with the rise of technology, young people are more exposed than ever before, and consequently subjected to being judged at all times. We all know the power of the “Like” and the “Unlike.” POV aims to use brutally honest phrases to expose this type of thinking—to normalize it rather than judge it.
Point Off View event at 76 Wooster Street in New York. Araceli Segura, Suzanne Saroff, Mitchell Cooper, Marina, Militza Rodriguez, Catherine Lan, James Hsieh. Not pictured: Scherezade Garcia. Photo by Javicho Rivero. Courtesy of Marina Testino.
WW: The pieces are designed in New York and made in Peru. What is that process like?
MT: It’s a bit stressful! I couldn’t go to Peru for too long, because I need to be back for work in New York, so I can only stay about one month. Although it seems like a lot of time, it’s not. In that month, I have to produce, as well as visit my 20 family members and try to travel and explore new places! There’s so much to see and learn from Peru—every corner is a continuous inspiration.
EDITION 0.
Courtesy of Marina Testino.
WW: Have your Peruvian roots influenced your creativity?
MT: Peru itself is just such a colorful country. It’s unlike many cities I have lived in (London, Paris, and New York), where everyone tends to wear dark colors. I’m trying to embrace more color through my designs and the artists I collaborate with.
Point Off View event at 76 Wooster Street in New York. Araceli Segura, Suzanne Saroff, Mitchell Cooper, Marina, Militza Rodriguez, Catherine Lan, James Hsieh. Not pictured: Scherezade Garcia. Photo by Javicho Rivero. Courtesy of Marina Testino.
WW: Tell us a bit about some artists, art fairs, or other global destinations that are inspiring to you.
MT: I think New York is an amazing city to discover and learn about new artists. I live next to The Hole Gallery in New York, and I think it’s one of those galleries where you walk past and it just attracts you to go inside.
Courtesy of Volta Bräu.
One of my favorite art fairs in the city is Frieze. It’s a big of a trip, but worth it! However, I don’t believe in finding artists in art fairs. I think there are a lot of artists that don’t have the means to be shown or seen—and those are the artists that I want to focus on for Point Off View.
WW: Can you tell us about being both behind the scenes and in the middle of it all, when partnering with brands like Rag and Bone for Oceana?
MT: Sometimes people don’t realize how much effort and work has been put into these campaigns and collections by everyone behind it. At the end of the day, you might only know the name of the model, photographer, and designer, when in reality there is so much more, and so many key people that made the final image possible.
