Content created in partnership with Samsung
When Ensemble was acquired by Stuff in August 2020, we arrived in the office just days before NZ Fashion Week was scheduled to begin - starry eyed at the thought of what our Champagne tastes could execute when we actually had budget and resources to match. (Prior to joining Stuff we were brimming with ideas but had no money, time or resource).
Of course, NZFW ended up being cancelled due to the Delta Covid outbreak on August 17 and was rescheduled to commence February 8. On Sunday January 23, the day after Aotearoa was put into a ‘red light’ setting, NZFW was once again cancelled just as everyone was ready to go ahead.
But we were loathe to let go of our dreams. By Monday morning we’d conceived of the inaugural Stuff Festival of Fashion which could house some of the content we’d dreamt of. But we really wanted to do a fashion show. Something that could uplift and support the local design fraternity while also transporting an audience into dreamier times. But short time frames amid Champagne tastes meant we would need an external partner to bring our dreams to reality.
By Friday, Samsung had signed on as a sponsor and we were officially in business. It was a dream partnership, with their new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G phone providing the ultimate accessory with its chic look (the Fendi Baguette has nothing on this phone as the perfect noughties re-brand of choice) while also being incredibly functional for its ability to help us capture the chaos that was unfolding - and navigate our communications through it.
By Monday, Auckland Anniversary Day, our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G was being used to speak with casting director and stylist Rob Tennent. We’d dragged him home early from an off-grid long weekend in the Coromandel to start chatting through models, designers and potential locations. Video calling him on the phone was effortless as its natural stand allowed us to be hands-free for looking up Rob’s references.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G also proved invaluable in helping us find a venue as we frantically used it to scroll the internet and deep dive Instagram rabbit holes.
The minute we saw Tim Melville Gallery we knew we loved it, and Tim, like Rob, (and Samsung) understood our vision and purpose immediately. He reached out to all the artists in his upcoming exhibition, Kōwhaiwhai, and asked permission for us to film around their works. The warmth and understanding with which they answered gave us damp eyes in tired times.
For hair we were thrilled to work with Lauren from Colleen, and Emma from Aleph Beauty - both Ensemble contributors and both who’d had NZFW dreams (and revenue and marketing opportunity) taken away.
Lauren generously provided her Karangahape Road salon for hair and makeup and so it was here, at 6am, that we found ourselves just 10 days after the cancellation of NZFW.
The adrenaline and energy in the air of these models, some of who were walking in their first runway show, was electric. They fully understood and embraced the chaos in which we were operating, and they were so excited to be along for the ride.
Once we arrived at the gallery where Rob was busy steaming the looks, and we saw Harris Tapper’s glorious cream Constance dress that was opening the show paired against the cream Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G we knew it was kismet. And from that moment the chaos of the previous 10 days melted away and magic happened. The covetable colours of the phones backstage fused seamlessly amidst a backdrop of new season pastel bags and shoes.
This is a catwalk of the future - full of hope and promise, the statespeople of the industry sharing a platform with those new emerging talents who will one day perhaps also be household names.
A true reflection of Aotearoa, brought together by a collective of collaborative talent, where the models are as important to use as the designs, where the mana of all involved sees community work together to see magic happen. We are so grateful to Samsung for making this possible.
Click here to watch the Ensemble Edit shoppable runway show presented by Samsung.
