F i c t i o n = F a s h i o n

Yarn + Ink is comfy-soft clothing

created from fiction. The company is

led by bestselling novelist Mark Z.

Danielewski (House of Leaves, Only

Revolutions, The Familiar), and de-

signer Regina Gonzales.

Each Yarn + Ink piece tells a story.

Current apparel collections feature

artwork and quotes from House of

Leaves, as well as Danielewski’s

current project, The Familiar, a

27- volume novel about a 12-year-old

girl who finds a kitten.

Where can I purchase Yarn + Ink products?

Yarn + Ink apparel is available via markzdanielewski.com, Amazon and Etsy.

What have been some of the most popular items? (As answered by Gonzales.)

Black Box Hoodie – We wanted an instantly recognizable image that represented House of Leaves. The Black Box surrounded by text can’t help but arrest one’s attention. Yggdrasil Hoodie – The words are so haunting and beautiful. This is another favorite among House of Leaves fans. Oria Thermal – Oria the Owl is sensitive, majestic and delicately overwhelming. After creating the signiconic artwork in The Familiar (Volume 1): One Rainy Day in May, I knew Oria would be beautiful to wear. And it lent itself perfectly to wrapping around and hugging the side of the wearer’s body.

The Familiar Cat Tee – This cat face with cloud-like paws draws you in with its curious stare and whiskers almost winking at you. This graphic was originally a block print carved by Danielewski for his annual holiday cards. Many years later, it morphed into the background pattern on the cover of The Familiar (Volume 1).

ALL THE DETAILS . . .

Where did the name Yarn + Ink come from?

Most pieces in the collection are crafted from fabric (Yarn) with screen-printed (Ink) words and images from Danielewski’s novels. The pieces are designed to provoke thought, and they are cozy and warm, or what we like to call comfy-soft—just like a good book!

How does this apparel relate to the books? Yarn + Ink offers a new way to interest people in words and story. Wearing “signiconic” artwork provokes conversation, and among those who have read the books, it usually sparks excitement when someone spots a familiar motif.

What is Danielewski’s definition of “signiconic” — particularly in the way it relates to his work?

“Signiconic = sign + icon. Rather than engage those textual faculties of the mind remediating the pictorial or those visual faculties remediating language, the signiconic simultaneously engages both in order to lessen the significance of both and therefore achieve a third perception no longer dependent on sign and image for remediating a world in which the mind plays no part.”

SOLACE LONG TANK

HoL. Page 563. “Little solace comes to those who grieve when thoughts keep drifting as walls keep shifting and this great blue world of ours seems a house of leaves moments before the wind.” Black yarn + cream and blue ink. Women’s. M.I.L.A. 100% ribbed cotton. $32

STORIES EMBROIDERED HOODIEHoL. Page 20. “We all create stories to protect ourselves.” We love this hoodie. The embroidery is dynamic, rich and shiny. Coffee yarn + orange thread. M.I.L.A. 50% cotton/42% polyester/8% rayon. $72

ONE HAPPY MANIAC CROP

TFv3. Page 423. “One Happy Maniac.” A summertime mantra fit for our inner crazy. OzMint yarn + silver ink. Women’s. M.I.L.A. 95% cotton/5% elastic. $26

QUICK FACTS . . .

• The Yggdrasil Hoodie is the most popular item in the store.

• Yarn + Ink developed a unique printing technique to create a raised effect on select items.

• People love Instagramming the ribbon that comes with each order.

• Although Yarn + Ink is a relatively new company — founded in 2015 — people in the United States, Canada, Italy, France, Austria, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, New Zealand, England and Scotland are already sporting Yarn + Ink apparel.

• With the exception of the hat and the Narcon Hoodie, all Yarn + Ink apparel is produced in the United States. To be more specific, all garments are M.I.L.A. (Made in Los Angeles) — our hometown!

• Gonzales is also a swimwear designer, and has produced collections under the Besott label. The Yarn + Ink June collection features its first swimwear piece.

• Danielewski is the award-winning author of House of Leaves, The Whalestoe Letters, Only Revolutions, The Fifty Year Sword and The Familiar.

• The Familiar (Volume 3): Honeysuckle & Pain was released in June, and Volume 4 will be available in early 2017.

ORIA THE OWL THERMAL

TFv1. Pages 870, 871. Again Oria soars. This long sleeve Henley-style thermal is long with a warm, snug fit. Black yarn + cream ink. M.I.L.A. 55% cotton/45% polyester. $44

RIPPLE SEA CROP

TFv3. Pages 862, 863. Lexi will forever be in the “ripple sea . . . ripple sea . . . ripple sea . . .” Black yarn + cream ink. Women’s. M.I.L.A. 95% cotton/5% elastic. $26

TFv1 CAT TEE

TFv1. The cat is a beast of its own free will. Comfortable unisex fit, no pesky side seam. Light pink yarn + black ink. M.I.L.A. 100% cotton. $32

SWIRL CAT TEE

The Familiar (Volume 2) cover. We are all familiar with the

pleasure of a curled-up cat. Cold forest yarn + pine ink. M.I.L.A.

100% cotton. $32

THE FAMILIAR SWIM

Your favorite cat goes with you to the beach, in the water, and under

the sun! Multi-colored braids represent characters in The Familiar and the

beautiful mix of Los Angelenos. All yarn + no ink. M.I.L.A. 80% polyester/20%

elastic. $120

BLACK BOX ZIP-UP HOODIE

HoL. Page 144. Because you’re not afraid of the dark. Gray yarn + black and blue ink. M.I.L.A. 50% polyester/42% cotton/8% rayon. $62

NEVER THERE HAT

HoL. Pages 204, 205. You’ve lost your head. Easy to adjust through the miracle of Velcro. Makes your brain bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. “something that was never there To215 begin with.” Black yarn + white thread. 100% cotton. $29

DUAL UNIVERSE TEE

HoL. Page 45. “Why did god create a dual universe? So he might say, “Be not like me. I am alone.” And it might be heard.57 57 These lines have a familiar ring though I’ve no clue why or where I’ve heard them before.58” Light blue yarn + black ink. M.I.L.A. 100% cotton. $32

NARCON ZIP-UP HOODIE

TFv1. Page 568. “As the old Narcons put it: There is not space in the universe

to tell the universe to the universe. Therein lies the peculiar beauty and sadness of stories: to tell it all without all at all.”

Black yarn + white ink. 52% cotton/48% polyester. $62

IT’S MINE BAG

HoL. Page 31. Fill this bag with whatever you want. Sturdy

construction with top zipper closure and side zipper pocket for easy access.

“It may be the wrong decision, but fuck it, it’s mine.” Black yarn + white ink. M.I.L.A. 100% cotton

denim. $66

YGGDRASIL ZIP-UP HOODIE

HoL. Page 709. “Yggdrasil What miracle is this? This giant tree. It stands ten

thousand feet high But doesn’t reach the ground. Still it stands. Its roots must hold the sky.” Oatmeal yarn + black

ink. M.I.L.A. 50% polyester/42% cotton/8% rayon. $62

HoL SOLACE LONG TANKYARN + INK

Los Angeles

markzdanielewski.com

yarnplusink@gmail.com

HoL STORIES HOODIE