Mediasearch

:: Zoemou “Secret Garden”

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

The wild and woolly weather that has plagued Sydney of late miraculously cleared on Wednesday, a marvellous start for the fashionable fans and friends who turned out to attend the Zoemou “Secret Garden” event. And once they stepped inside, the world as they knew it only seconds before had disappeared – at least for the few hours that followed!

The well known interior of hotspot Fringe Bar had been completely transformed into a fashionable Secret Garden, an oasis of greenery and creatures that left guests gob‐smacked and feeling like they had literally stepped into the pages of a modern day fairy tale! Every part of the interior from walls to tables and bookcases had come alive like an urban botanical growing garden, a peek of spring and sunshine in a very cold winter.

Sipping the signature Zoemou Rose Petal Martini’s guests took in the inspired surrounds…and skilfully negotiated walking in heels on the grassy floor. The crowd had gathered for the launch of the new Zoemou collection by popular designer and artist Zoe Sernack, aptly named “The Secret Garden” and inspired by the children’s classic.

The Zoemou label is an off centre, artistic label which is as much about creating beautiful objects as it as about unique and graphic artforms. And as an evolutionary extension of her accessories, for one night of pure fantastical indulgence, Zoe teamed up with fashion designer and friend Daniel Avakian, to bring her motifs to life in the form of oversized and exaggerated avante‐garde ensembles. The lights dimmed and music rose to a dramatic height as figures emerged from the ivy. Victorian looking porcelain dolls (made over by the talented team at Napoleon) with their frosted, dusty, stone‐like faces embodied statues that had come to life and been taken over by natures elements. Their hair was sculpted into swirling, textured forms directed by Jon Pulitano for GHD, and the overall result was reminiscent of high end couture shows in Paris.

The show stopping outfits were intricate and explosive one‐off pieces in fairytale tones of silver and lavender, given an electric heart‐beat with the huge leather laser cut pieces ‐ direct representations of Zoemou’s latest jewellery designs. It was clear to see how the remarkable ability and imagination of two very talented beings had translated into an fashionably artistic experience for all to appreciate. The thrilling atmosphere was amped up even further once the outfits had been revealed, with many of the fashion savvy overheard gasping that they had to get their hands on some what they had just seen! And while these exact pieces of glamour will not be up for purchase, they succinctly showcased the direction in which these two designers are going to be heading ‐ a bespoke service for one of a kind and unique creations.

When the installation show was over, and designers Zoe Sernack and Daniel Avakian had taken a bow, it was time to kick back and enjoy being in the other‐worldly, magical surrounds of The Secret Garden. The cosy back room became an unintentional enclave for some well known faces, delighted to rest their feet and catch up with friends – every once in a while noticing another birds nest or white porcelain creature peeking out from a bookcase or somewhere unexpected!

As the evening came to a gradual end, guests reluctantly left the bright warm haven, organic goody filled gift bags in hand. Braving the chill, the last reminder of what has been was the patch of grass on the pavement on Oxford Street, but for happy guests, the night in “The Secret Garden” and all its delights will be etched in memories for a very long time to come! Among the guests that attended were Jason Dundas, Donny Galella, Tali Jatali, Troy Thompson, Nookie designers Nikita Sernack and Brooke Coleman, designer Gary Bigeni, and Julian Tobias.