A new specialty boutique and designer showroom to join the Styleshack network is Winky Designs, a whimsical, fun and affordable brand specializing in awesome watches and other fashion accessory product lines (scarves, clutches, belts and more). We interviewed, Winky Wu (the business chic brains behind, Winky Designs) Winky Wu has a unique and fun business approach – she designs based on form and function for people to express their individual styles in an affordable way!{SS} What inspired you to start your company?{WINKY} It's kind of an unconventional story!! I've always wanted to try my hand at building up my own business, but everything has to align (timing, stage of life, financial stability) in order for one to make that jump! I decided to start my own company at the time that I did because it was a way to move closer to the person I was dating (who moved a lot), and I figured the lifestyle of an entrepreneur was the most flexible and mobile.When it first started, I was living at my boyfriend's tiny New York apartment and I was just working out of our living room in the most cramped working situations imaginable! The business has grown a TON in the last 2.5 years, and we also got married last October, so it's been amazing how everything came full circle and ended up working out.June 2012 in New York
Our office today!
{SS} Where do you get the inspiration for each collection?{WINKY} I'm inspired by the things that I love most in life: FOOD, traveling and my pet dog Gummy Bear:) So pretty much all collections are inspired by and themed after foods (desserts, ice creams, cocktails), traveling and animals. One of our best selling collections is called Sweet Dreams, and every watch in the collection is named after a dessert! My favorite is the Blueberry Cheesecake, and I even designed the watch packaging to look like little cookie tins!
Another example is our Downward Dog stud earrings, which is inspired by watching my dog stretch every morning. The earrings are a little reminder of my silly dog which always brings a smile to my face – and that's what the Winky Designs brand is really all about!
{SS} In regards to your personal style, do you have a signature accessory? (i.e. hat, bracelet, one of your pieces you always wear)?{WINKY} My personal style is modern and classic but fun, and most days you'll find me wearing one of the Sweet Dreams watches because they're so comfortable, and it's like jewelry meets statement piece which also happens to b
e functional. Our brand has grown a lot over the last few years and we now have over 150 individual items under the Winky Designs brand, which include not only watches but all sorts of accessories (scarves, belts, handbags, jewelry). So, the perk of owning a fashion design business is that you can always mix it up and wear something different every day to match your mood or outfit.{SS} A few items in your "styleshack" (A.K.A closet) that you can't live without?{WINKY} I have a few white blazers in my closet! They give you a sophisticated yet stylish look and pretty much go with everything. When I travel, I always take a Winky Designs scarf with me. They roll up small (easy to pack in a suitcase) and is pretty multi-functional as a scarf or shawl when you're feeling chilly, a wrap or sarong when you're by the pool, and they're just SO SOFT!
{SS} Words to live by or favorite quote?{WINKY} I recently read a book by Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook) and she said something that really stayed with me: "If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on."
Winky Designs is growing so much now and it's really been an exciting ride – and I can't wait to see where this rocket takes us!:)
