Finding the best of both worlds is no simple task, but David Helwani, founder of the casual line Twenty and the dressy LaPina label, has found the sweet spot. By combining luxurious fabrics with covetable designs and offering them all at an attainable price point, he’s offering up two collections to keep on your radar.
What’s the difference between Twenty and LaPina?
Twenty has been in business for five years and it has more everyday pieces; it has a casual chic vibe to it. It’s your everyday, day-to-night pieces. LaPina has been around for just under one year and the clothes are for special occasions. But you’ll get noticed in both collections.
What makes the lines stand out?
My family owns a mill in Montreal so we are able to use premium fabrics in both of the lines.
Tell us more about this mill!
The mill has been in the family for 35 years and we’ve produced for a bunch of top European and American designers for years. When I got out of school, I decided to start a line that would be our own. Based on the reputation of the mill and our use of the yarns, it really helped establish us in a different light.
Does your family background provide you with a different perspective than most designers?
I think I was better versed from a manufacturing perspective and it gave us a definite competitive advantage.
