New York - February 28, 2011

Look Sweet in Hand-Painted Silk Blouses by Rachel Rose

T-Shirts Made to Order in NYC

Poison warned us that every rose has its thorn.

And though we generally lap up drops of ’80s wisdom, Brooklyn designer Rachel Rose’s hand-painted, nonprickly silk tees have us singing a different tune.

The line of sweet, made-to-order shirts comprises three capsule collections — all based on a single, boxy silhouette.

Inkblot’s organic, splotched dots and ephemeral pastel clouds play on the feminine nuances of the fabric (we love the black and white number with coral epaulet-like stripes); Squares salutes Mondrian with bold hues, precise lines, and patterns that spill onto the back; and Broken Stripes comes in gauzier silk with striated, stacked bands.

Production is kept local and virtually waste free (scraps are reused, and only the minimal amount of water is used during painting and processing).

Dresses, shorts, skirts, and tanks are on the horizon, as are braided belts and headbands — which should keep your big hair in check.

Available online at byrachelrose.com and etsy.com, $78-$248. For custom orders, e-mail rachel@byrachelrose.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Rachel Rose 

  Hand-Painted