Mihaela Hinkle Founder of Carpatina

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A Few Words From The Founder of Carpatina

The word Carpatina means a girl from the Carpathian Mountains. Mihaela Hinkle is a girl from the Carpathian Mountains in Romania and she is the founder of Carpatina. She writes the following about herself and her dream of providing imaginative dolls and beautiful clothing to the world:

I was born in a small village in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains and my parents' house was and still is a piece of paradise on Earth. The 12 feet high front gates sculpted with angels motifs, the long courtyard covered with grapevines, the front porch with two massive columns and my mom's (always blooming) flower garden, will be in my memory forever.

I left home at 14 in order to go to the High school in the near by town. Romania was a communist country in those times and things were rough. Schools and jobs were 6 days a week but, I was eager to come back home on every Sunday.

The villager were always celebrating a wedding or a baptism or a Saints Day; there was always music and the smell of freshly baked cheese buns in the air.

Time went by and in the summer of 1985 I was admitted to the University. It was one of the happiest days of my life and all I remember is that I was so exited that, I jumped on my bike and rode for about 15 miles (I wish I can still do that easily) to see my best friend which was living in a neighboring village.

My major was Textile and Apparel Engineering with a secondary major in fashion history.

I was really in love with clothing and I wanted to know everything it was possible to know about it. During the college years, my inclination towards clothing design and history of fashion became more and more obvious. I was very much attracted to older fashions which I founded much more elegant and feminine than the contemporary one. I was fascinated with the glamour of old fashions and also with the amount of details in the clothing.

My last year in school was a politically tumultuous years. The revolution to overthrow the communism in 1989 was one of the things I am most proud to have been part of.

I finished school the next spring and I started my first job in Bucharest at the largest Apparel Manufacturer in the country.

My 3 year career here provided me with a great experience about what clothing manufacturing involves, from design to choosing materials, draping, pattern making, embroidery, sewing, packaging and import/ export.

But, life in Romania after the revolution become harder and harder. Inflation was high and my engineer's salary was barely enough to cover the rent on my studio apartment with very little furniture in it. My parents were coming on a monthly basis to bring me food from the little farm they had. My dad was even helping me pay the rent sometimes.

The worst of all was when I realized that I will never be able to use my talents and my aptitudes, people were struggling to live, there was no place for much extra. What a sad revelation.

But one day, a bright and sunny and unforgettable day, a big chance was offered to me, so big that I couldn't really resist. Being sponsored to come to USA, the land of opportunities. I had to try it.

August 23, 1993; I arrived in NY airport with one green suitcase and this was the start of a new life, on a new land, all from "zero".

The love for my native country and the fond memories of my childhood are the foundation for what the Carpatina business encompasses... My love for history and the Medieval and Renaissance fashions are the base for the Fantasy Adventures dolls. They are made with love and intended to challenge the girls imagination and intuition. I hope that moms will encourage their girls to continue to play with dolls for many generations to come.

We here at Infinite Freedom are so impressed with the way that Mihaela Hinkle has been able to create a company manufacturing these beautiful dolls. Between Mihaela and the staff that she has put together, they have worked in the past on other famous doll brands like Stardust Classics, Dream Doll Designer, Little Sisters, My Li'l Punkin and Friend to Friend.

Infinite Freedom

My prayer is for a world so safe and abundant...
where all who love to sew are free to sew...
where all have the resources they need to sew...
and no strife or war can touch anyone who wants to sew.

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