Designer Emma Cornall, of the brand Emma Jing, had a lot to celebrate last Saturday, June 17. It was both her birthday and in a way, her wedding day – a showcase of her first bridal collection and final body of work in Aotearoa before she leaves for London.
This time last year Cornall and Taylor Groves held their second collaborative fashion show, Gemini Season, in an old church; the Sunday service foreshadowing the designer’s new direction.
It rained on the wedding day, meaning a last minute venue pivot from a friend’s flat to a recently empty gallery on Karangahape Road, directly opposite a bridal store and next door to The Keep, where Cornall and Groves share a workspace.
“I had been looking at the bridal store for a while and was thinking I could make someone look really cool and feel awesome as a bride,” she says. “I was commissioned to make a wedding look last year, and Taylor and I collaborated on a second one. I received a lot of messages from people who were getting married, asking if I could commission something.”
The bridal theme also held important significance for Cornall. “Last year my dad got sick with cancer and I had the awful imposing thought, ‘my dad will never see me get married’ - something I hadn't really imagined myself doing anytime soon. I had conversations with people who had also lost a parent and they shared similar thoughts, so I wanted to explore the feeling more.”
At 3.30pm in the biting cold, the stark white gallery filled with overwhelming warmth as 150 guests poured in to watch the young designer's final show in Tāmaki Makaurau. Cellist Charlotte Forrester sat next to the hand-sewn backdrop ‘altar’, creating beautiful sombre sounds. Tulle bows lined the pews, and a Lindauer tower and frothy wedding cake framed the gallery doors.
Friends modelled 14 looks, including bridal gowns, mini dresses and two-pieces with the Emma Jing flare: lots of ruching and clever drapery, intricate ties, romantic headpieces, silk scrunchies with dangly pearls and tiny satin purses.
Stylist Tom So helped come up with the looks, pairing more traditional garments with sexy, sophisticated elements. Groves designed the two ‘grooms’ looks, a shorts suit and a wool twill skirt and lace T-shirt.
“It’s so fun to include all the talented people in my life in the show - from styling, to hair and makeup, graphics and set design,” says Cornall. “So many friends lended their time just to see it come together, it warms my heart how many people were willing to jump in for free.”
Post-show, emotions ran high backstage. “I think I decided to do the show the week before I leave so I could have all the people I love around me and distract myself that I'm leaving a place with so many special people.”
While she’s excited for a new big city life, leaving feels bittersweet. “I'll miss the community that I have in New Zealand, I’ll miss my mum so much I can't really explain the bond we have, especially after dad passed.”
As for her plans in London, “I'd love to work in a couture house and work primarily with drape, so my brand might be put on hold for a while. I'm hoping to get a sewing machine and keep making, but I've also been thinking of studying again... I can get really in my head about the fashion industry, so maybe it's a full career change at this point, who knows.”
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