Neja in Barcelona

This summer, Pantaluna designer, Neja Alic, traveled to Barcelona to investigate Antonio Gaudi. The colorful tile work meticulously laid out was not only a great backdrop for her but a true inspiration. Witnessing the carefully composed schemes and graphic movement in the facades of Gaudi’s architecture was reminiscent of the de-construction-reconstruction process inherent in creating artwear at Pantaluna.

Newly inspired, Neja put herself to work, infusing visions of Gaudi’s playful mosaics into her newest Fall/Winter creations. Check out her latest invention, the Pantaluna tunic, in our store now!

Our newest addition - tunics!

Also, stop in for headbands, scarves, snoods and NEW off the presses, the best winter product ever, LUNA-CUFFS! Pics to come soon…

Most artists follow a different drummer. Area artist Illia Barger follows several.

Sometimes a drummer leads her to painting large, expressive flowers, fruits and vegetables that envelop us in their worlds. Others lead her to create captivating murals that move and motivate us or to design eco-friendly art clothing that’s fun to wear and expresses our own artistic bent. Still there are others — like the one she follows as a color consultant.

“I specialize in creativity, which allows me to land in any medium,” she says with an infectious smile, “including my clothing.” This she says as we sit in her office and studio in her home along the river in Stockton, N.J.

Painting by Illia Barger

Painting by Illia Barger

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“Making our art, we make artful lives.” ~ Julia Cameron

How does an artist view the world? Imagine for a minute that art is not a thing that one does, but a perspective — a driving force. When an artist looks out at his/her surroundings, they are often inspired into action. What can I make with this? How can this be more pleasing? How do I translate a feeling? The artist takes what is, and creates an interactive relationship with it, not unlike a dance. And the result is often something greater than the sum of its parts.

When local artist Illia Barger looks at the world around her, she hears the music. Sometimes this sound moves her to paint ethereal, large scale portraits of flowers or public murals. Other times she is drawn to creating upcycled clothing — fashionable art wear, made from existing cotton T-shirts. In either case, through her interaction with her mediums, she is revealing value that is beyond the scope of paintbrushes and V-necks.

An artist’s life is not confined to the work that they do, it is a lifestyle of creative living. It is dancing with the innovative spirit, resulting in art for the common good. A recent mural painted by Ms. Barger is positioned in the Intensive Care Unit of the new Capital Health Hospital in Hopewell, NJ. Fittingly titled “Growth,” this installation brings peaceful beauty and the power of nature’s spirit to a place where patients need it most. Pantaluna, Illia’s other labor of love, rescues T-shirts that would otherwise end up in landfills and creates one-of-a-kind clothing for men and women. This creative act benefits not only the person wearing her clothes, but all of us living on a cleaner planet.

With the idea that art is inclusive, it is only fitting that Pantaluna has just made a physical move to a new location in Frenchtown, NJ, to a space that was previously an art gallery. Now, Ms. Barger has the opportunity to be creative once again — merging her clothing designer self with her painter self. How will she transform this space? What will it become? These are the questions she is dancing with in her mind, as the musicians tune their instruments. And as we take our seats, we prepare to witness her next creative dance with life.

Pantaluna’s new space is located at 39 Bridge Street, Frenchtown, New Jersey 08825.

Important note: We will be closed down the week of Oct. 1-6 as we prepare for our move. Doors will open at our new space October 7th!

Pantaluna powerhouse Illia Barger not only creates artwear for the world to enjoy, but she also dedicates a large portion of her creative efforts to painting. This time her talents have converged on the second floor of the new Capital Health Hospital in Hopewell, New Jersey. Patients visiting the Intensive Care Unit will soon be surrounded by her ethereal 9′ x 30′ beauty, fittingly titled “Growth.”

The hospital is hosting an open house on October 2nd, 10-4pm. Come on out to see Illia and check out the work of many other local artists who have been commissioned to contribute to Capital Health’s atmosphere of wellness. Illia will be there from 2-4 to say hello and answer any questions you may have.

See the flier at the top of this post for the hospital’s address and visit Capital Health’s website for more details of the event.

Hope to see you there!

Illia teaches Lira how to get started.

Recently, Pantaluna hired me to be their Social Media Maven. Sometimes when I come into the shop to meet with the girls, my 3 year old daughter, Lira, tags along and spruces up the joint. We laugh, we play, we sing along to her favorite song “Rolling In The Deep”, by Adele – you know, the usual. But this last meeting was spontaneously exceptional.

One of my favorite Pantaluna accessories is the headband. While we were in the shop, Lira was admiring them and Illia offered to custom make a headband just her size! She was able to hand pick the material and even got a hands-on lesson in Pantalunaband making. Let’s just say, this was an exciting experience for her.

Lira tries her hand at it.

As a mother of a 3 year old, I’ve been realizing lately, the real value of a handmade item, especially one that my daughter has a hand in making. When she paints and builds her own toys, not only does she enjoy the experience, she then has something to remind her of the joy of creation. She begins to develop an appreciation for art, toys and objects she can interact with.

Then, her belongings actually mean something to her, and are not just another shiny plastic thing from the toy store shelf.

Thanks, Illia and Neja for giving my daughter not only a beautiful headband that she can now wear proudly to preschool, but for giving her the opportunity to be engaged, to learn, to create and to see the value of her own little hands.

Finished product!

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new website! Now, Pantalunachicks around the world can view our one-of-a-kind items online and make purchases from the comfort of their own homes (or offices, or coffee shops or wherever they may be!).

Our new site features front and back views of each item, plus a handy magnifying glass, allowing you to zoom in for a closer look. We offer free shipping for purchases within the Continental US.

You may also notice our new and improved tagline: “Upscaled Upcycled Artwear,” which gives our new friends a little more clarity into what we’re all about.

While you’re browsing for our latest pieces, please be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Here we share inspiring stories about what goes on in our lives and also in the blooming upcycling community around the world. There’s some fascinating stuff going on!

Thanks so much for your continued support and friendship, we appreciate you!

Love ~ The Pantalunachicks and Glenkovich

Image Source: Upcyclemagazine.com

Upcycling, by definition, is the most green way to recycle. It takes materials that have already been created and have found themselves at the bottom of the consumer chain, and turns them into something useful and/or beautiful.

In our case, we use cotton T-shirts that were purchased and not used or gently worn. This material is then infused with creativity and elbow grease to upcycle it into a new product that can be brought to the top of the market, rescuing it from certain death in a landfill, which is the case with most T-shirts.

Typically, discarded T-shirts are turned into rags and used by mechanic shops to clean cars and auto parts. When the rags are full of grease and oil, they are then dumped into landfills where they add to the pollution of our very soil.

It would be much easier for us to order new material, stack it, cut it and make our clothing. But that would be increasing the burden on earth’s resources. Our mission is to decrease the burden, while dressing people in comfortable, long lasting, artwear. Hence our new slogan: “Upscaled – Upcycled – Artwear”

Have you thought about doing some upcycling of your own? What have you made? Please share with us!

Love ~ The Pantalunachicks