Robin Eisenberg Stars in Her Eyes

SHE’S STOKED ON SKATING, SISTERHOOD AND STAR Trek. Why wouldn’t Thrasher want to team up with Robin Eisenberg for an upcoming clothing line?

​Gwynned Vitello: There is such optimism in your work, in a Life-is-Good sort of way. My mental sketch is of you growing up in a supportive home, where you were expected to pick up after yourself and cook dinner once in awhile. 

Robin Eisenberg: So true. I’m optimistic to the point of it being kind of silly, and you aren’t too far off. My parents divorced when I was two, so there was that inevitable difficulty, but Mom and Dad were really good about not putting my sister and me in the middle of it. All my parents (step included) were good listeners, and always made sure we knew our various weird pursuits were super relevant and interesting to them. I would sing Tori Amos covers at high school talent shows, and they came to each one! They didn’t mind when I drew all over my new jeans or cut my hair to look like Angelina Jolie in Hackers. Getting such creative and personal validation as a kid makes the world feel very friendly.

Scully, Missy Elliott and Michelle Obama have populated your universe. Who were your fictional and non-fictional heroes growing up?