Welcome to De*Nada Design!
De*Nada Design was started in Washington, DC by Virginia Arrisueño. People always seem to ask her why she named her label, De*Nada and why not use her own name like most designers do. “My last name, Arrisueño is very difficult to pronounce properly. So rather than hear my name get butchered each time I do business, I decided to use a word that is catchy and easy to say. Since both my parents are from Peru, South America, I decided to choose a Spanish word that most people would know what it means. And so, I chose de nada, which means you’re welcome.”
De*Nada Design consists of handbags, t-shirts and knit accessories such as, scarves, gloves and hats. Each collection is designed for the young, urban, and “on the go” guys and girls who need products that are fun, stylish, and original, yet practical and affordable at the same time. “All De*Nada products are made with high quality natural and synthetic materials. Because our customers are young professionals/urbanites on the go, we choose materials that are suitable to the design of the product as well as the need of the customer.”
Soon after starting De*Nada Design, Virginia’s best friend and now husband, Kelly Towles joined her label. As a street artist, Kelly brought grit to the table that Virginia had already built. “Our personalities are the complete opposite to one another. I guess that’s what attracted us to each other initially. When it comes to designing, our design process can be challenging at times. It reminds me sort of like a wrestling tag-team event. We pass ideas back and forth, over and over again until we reach a final decision. The end product is a collection that represents both us.”
Our Designers
Virginia Blanca Arrisueño was born in Morristown, New Jersey on June 5th, 1980. Her parents are both Peruvian and immigrated to the United States in the late 1970’s, making her and her three siblings first generation. Her interest in business was discovered at an early age. Influenced by her parent’s entrepreneurial success, Virginia always knew that she enjoyed working independently, and dreamed one day she would follow in her parents’ footsteps.
While studying for her BFA at the University of Maryland, Virginia became strongly interested in fiber arts and won several awards such as, the Sadat Art for Peace Award delivered by Nelson Mandela. Post graduation, she won first prize in Viridian Artists, Inc National Competition juried by Robert Rosenblum, curator at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. She also interned at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Numark Gallery in Washington, DC, and Vertigo Gallery in London, England.
Motivated by the desire to combine her interest in business and art, Virginia decided to start De*Nada Design in the spring of 2005. Soon after, her close friend and now husband, Kelly Towles joined her label. Currently, Virginia and Kelly live and work in Washington, DC.
Kelly Towles, a military brat, grew up in many different places. He spent most of his childhood in Alice Spring, the center of Australia. With little to do as a young kid in a desert environment, Kelly spent most of his time watching Japanese animation and reading comic books. Influenced by animated illustrations, his interest in art quickly developed.
Soon after receiving his BFA from the University of Maryland, Kelly was anonymously selected to participated in DCCAH’s Print Portfolio Project, which landed him his first solo show at David Adamson’s Gallery in Washington, DC. His work has been written up in The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Washington City Paper and several online publications such as, Fecal Face and Wooster Collective.
Currently, Kelly works as an artist and freelance graphic designer in Washington, DC. His clientele includes bands such as, Brand New, Senses Fail, Victory Party, Augustana, and Dashboard Confessional.
