News: Artist Jack Hadley collaborates with Emma Jing and Taylor Groves on new fashion collection

Emma Jing and Taylor Groves, Gemini Season T-shirt. Photo: Dylan Lee

And in AKL central glitterati news……..

18th of June 2022:

In the late hours of another wet and rainy Saturday afternoon in Auckland, Emma Jing and Taylor Groves were married in a beautiful ceremony that took place at St Luke's Presbyterian Church at 130 Remuera Road. The church bells rang, echoing throughout the suburb and singing across the city. People clapped, they cried, they watched in admiration and hope and love and jealousy at the purest of unions that was unfolding before their eyes.

And if you ask me, Jack Hadley was a really beautiful flower girl!

Only joking. 

I am referring, of course, to the aptly named collaborative fashion show of Jing and Groves that so accurately closed out the sometimes painful, sometimes playful ‘Gemini Season.’

I sat at the very back. I thought I was making good time with an angelic 4:44 pm arrival, but as I walked in to the place of worship, the headband/slicked back middle part/oversized scrunchie adorned crowd that had already eagerly gathered reminded me that I should know my place and do better to arrive not fashionably late to a fashion show if I actually wanted a good seat to see the work.

I thought a little about what I was to say about the whole affair as the live piano started to play out harmonious tunes to the audience—unfortunately, the only things that were springing to mind were cringy Carrie Bradshaw (or maybe Samantha?) like quips, like:

Typically, I’d do anything to avoid both Remuera and the Church—but for fashion, I’d do anything! 

OR

There’s only one thing that could get this group of sinners into a church on a Saturday evening honey, and that’s fashion!

ANYWAY

A friend wondered if we’d see a wedding look, as it would only be fitting given the environment. Besides, couture shows usually end with a wedding dress.

But then! At the altar, a blushed cherub in a piercing red, an intricately pleated baby-doll-esque dress, and a perfectly matching pout to boot. She wafts right past us, looking like she’s on her way to some place the rest of us are definitely not invited.

An updated play on her well loved hair accessories, Jing adorns some of her girls in bandanas that are soooo a la tropicana. It’s almost giving leopard print, but it’s more evocative of a yummy drink. Or fruits like mangoes and berries. Or a holiday. Melted ice- cream. Think resort wear, think international travel, think a life of enjoying Pina Coladas by the ocean. Which is crazy to imagine given the setting, but it really took me there. We’re in Bora Bora, bitch!

But we’re not in Bora Bora, we’re in someone’s back garden, and artist Jack Hadley is using a hose to create something that could almost be tie dye, but isn’t. Call it conceited, call it whatever you want. Tops spray painted with EMMA JING and BORING saunter by, described by Hadley as “the dumber the better…” Works for me—I’m an idiot. The colours are out of control, they splatter and spurt across the fabrics.

They’re not striving for any kind of perfection, but it seems like they reach it in the end. Garments wrap, and twirl and twist over themselves again and again. The backs of pieces swoop down the spine, creating sultry outlines and shapes across the characters wearing them.

Groves’ tailoring remains impeccable, a feat of flattery that so well serves a meeting of glamour and casualness. Tiny bags and baby wrap skirts accompany his mismatched shirts and pants. Romance emanates from the frames of boys stomping down the aisle—one of them even winks! ;) Soft pools of colour drape over the shoulders of the girls; gradients fading in and out of rich dark moments and airy sky blues. A cold drink—a vodka soda. Extra icy. Nothing is too heavy here. The vibe and the clothing itself is about flowing, playing, and finding an equilibrium of full and empty. Someone's in a kind-of-suit, but they’re not going to work, that’s for sure. Strings dribble in tandem with the mostly tattooed jumble of models, spotlighting the shines and shadows and making each piece appear entirely uniquely its own.

They say that Gemini energy allows us to better collaborate, communicate and work in teams, and that’s what Groves and Jing did here. In unison with styling by Tom So, the makeup vision of Binh Minh Ha and head hair stylist Henare Davidson’s slicked back plaits galore, the collection takes you out of the miserable winter blues and places you on a first class flight to somewhere better, somewhere sunny, somewhere where love and fun reign supreme.

Ah, redemption! Silky looks and sex sells. What a short, sweet triumph highlighting two sides of the same charming coin.

The ceremony was heavenly. I’d tell you all about the reception, but some things are better left unsaid.

My congratulations to the newlyweds!

Xx

B.C

The Emma Jing and Taylor Groves collection will be available at THE KEEP showroom until the end of next week.

Jack Hadley print, pre-production. Photo: Emma Jing

Jack Hadley artwork, pre-production. Photo: Emma Jing

Emma Jing shorts with Jack Hadley flower logo. Photo: Emma Jing

Artists Claudia Kogachi and Koko backstage at the Emma Jing/Taylor Groves fashion show. Photo: Dylan Lee

Backstage at the Emma Jing/Taylor Groves fashion show. Photo: Dylan Lee

Model Holly Rose Emery backstage at the Emma Jing/Taylor Groves fashion show. Photo: Dylan Lee

Fashion designer Catherine Boddy and artist Nariman Taghipouran backstage at the Emma Jing/Taylor Groves fashion show. Photo: Dylan Lee

Fashion designer Jamie Horsefield and architectural designer/DJ Sivan Danin backstage at the Emma Jing/Taylor Groves fashion show. Photo: Dylan Lee

Backstage at the Emma Jing/Taylor Groves fashion show. Photo: Dylan Lee

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