When making discoveries, the process is seldom deliberate with a happy ending. Like penicillin, Velcro, microwave ovens, or even Post-It Notes, many things we take for granted were invented as a result of happy accidents. For sprouting designers Goeun Cho and Nancy Kang of Twolive Tree, the heartbreaking misfortune of losing the sketches and designs for their original Fall/Winter 2008 collection in the back of a cab was the bittersweet twist of fate that led to something great.

"We were given another chance to make it better, and get it right this time," explains Kang. "It was definitely a test of our relationship, and it created a solid ground for us to walk on without pointing fingers. Of course we were discouraged at first, but later found that it was a blessing in disguise—we shook it off and worked off of each other's spirits."

The new Fall/Winter 2008 collection takes inspiration from what Kang calls classic "traveling literature"; books like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Rather fitting, as reworking their premiere collection from scratch in just five days was quite the adventure, too.

For now, they may only appear to be saplings just popping their heads out into the vast fashion scene, but formal training in Italy and at F.I.T. along with stints at Diane von Furstenberg, zero + maria cornejo and Laundry by Design, has given the duo serious roots to draw from. It won't be long until style scavengers unearth their gift for fashion design thanks to their solid debut.

A careless mishap shook their humble tree and they lost a few leaves along the way, but it's evident that friendship will help these emerging designers withstand any attempts to chop them down.

Twolive Tree is available at Debut New York, 298 Mulberry Street.

- Sakiko Yamagata

Similar Topics:debut collection, fall 2008, womenswear

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