Gia Rinella is a high school junior living in Salt Lake City, Utah taking the fashion world by storm. Her innovative method of stitching artwork onto tops has quickly become a success. Gia’s originality and artistic talent resulted in her brand blossoming quickly, thrusting her into the fashion spotlight. We were able to chat about Gia Milan Co’s unintentional start and the thrill of Emma Chamberlain styling her pieces.
I’m so interested to know how you got started on your clothing line!
Gia: I signed up for a clay class last spring, and due to the pandemic we had to transition online. We were given the task to continue a form of art. I had recently seen “The Silence of the Lambs” and I wanted to paint it on a shirt, but I didn’t want to mess up the shirt and then have my mistake on a shirt forever. I painted on muslin fabric and then stitched it onto the top. All of my friends really liked this original idea and thought it was really creative.
Is your passion for art inherited or something you developed?
Gia: I come from a really artistic family, and I have a huge appreciation for art as well. My great-grandfather painted the Pope which is in the Vatican. My grandmother and my mom paint as well. Art has really been around me my whole life. I have such a huge family background in art and I’m finding out new stuff about them all the time.
What inspires your designs?
Gia: I get inspiration from things I liked as a kid. I have a drop in September that will be into the cottagecore aesthetic with lots of pastels, but i’m most excited for the drop in October. I’m going to use a ton of fun colors and it will be very Tim Burton-esque.
What inspires you to keep designing?
Gia: I received a lot of positive appraisal from friends and family. They’re really what got me going. They told me they hadn’t seen anything like my tops and I realized I had something really original.
How has social media influenced your line?
Gia: I can’t even express how much TikTok has helped, especially in terms of marketing. It’s so easy because it’s such an equalizer, you can really get in contact with anybody.
What’s been the best thing to come of your designs?
Gia: It would definitely be working with Emma Chamberlain. My heart stopped when she wrote to me. She DM’d me through TikTok and said to surprise her with anything. I got to practice some of my original art, and I was just excited to send the tops to her. It was incredible when she posted them on her Instagram.
What are some last words you’d like to share?
Gia: I’ve gotten a lot of questions from people asking how to start something they’re interested in. It’s all about being unique. People became attracted [to my tops] because it was something new and exciting. I think those qualities are how you can produce the most success.
This interview has been edited and condensed. Gia Milan Co
Follow Gia Milan Co. on Instagram @giamilanco
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