Allow us to introduce Vivienne Morgan, Aveen Oghana and Kim Robertson. These three very creative and talented ladies all have their own skills as a milliner, jewellery designer and artist, respectively. They’ve joined forces and will be hosting an art and fashion event to showcase their designs on November 10. Angela Beitz catches up with them.
Tell us about the exhibition.
Aveen Oghana: We are an artist, a jewellery designer and a milliner, and our passion for contemporary art, sculpture and design brought us together. Our event is a high-end art and fashion exhibition that will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 10. We want it to be both an avenue for exhibiting our work and getting feedback from the public, as well as a catalyst for encouraging other artists and designers who attend the event to share ideas. Our aim is to bring together independent entrepreneurs in the worlds of art, fashion and design who are residing in the UAE and promote collaborations between them.
Why did you decide to put this event together?
AO: Whilst you might not ordinarily put art, hats and jewellery into the same category, we find the three mediums really complement each other. We are united by our love of designing and creating beautiful objects and our desire to inspire others. There are many art lovers, fashion-savvy women and creative people of all nationalities living in the UAE, and we want to use our event as a platform to inspire those people and get them excited about independent art and design in Abu Dhabi. We are planning lots of fun, quirky ideas to make our exhibition stand out including photography by fabulous fashion photographer and make-up artist Dee Azlan of www.dollupbydee.com. Dee is an established Malaysian-American make-up artist turned photographer who will be at the event taking pictures of guests. Make-up and hair for the participating models will also be styled and designed by Dee who will feature a perfect party look that is easy for everyone to recreate.
Do you think Abu Dhabi lacks events like this one you are putting on?
AO: I feel the art and cultural scene in Abu Dhabi is generally well developed with some great art galleries and excellent government-backed cultural events, but platforms for independent designers in the UAE are only starting to emerge. Our aim is to introduce the capital to alternative events that bring together independent entrepreneurs that may be in the process of launching here, as well as fantastic products and great art from the more established artists and designers.
Vivienne Morgan: I was thrilled to see the recent Hatwalk event in London where, overnight, the city’s most famous statues were dressed with dramatic hats made by some of the most renowned British milliners. This was a true celebration of British fashion and London’s heritage and, as a milliner, I would love to see events similar to this in the UAE. I am looking forward to Abu Dhabi Art in November and excited about the emergence of the Saadiyat Cultural District and the effect this should have on the Abu Dhabi art and fashion scene long term.
Is it a coincidence that your event will fall on the last day of Abu Dhabi Art 2012?
Kim Robertson: It is important to support an event such as Abu Dhabi Art and create an atmosphere of creativity throughout the city. This event puts Abu Dhabi on the art map. Every major city that holds a contemporary art fair such as New York, London and Miami also has fantastic art and design shows running concurrently to support the major event. This is something that we are trying to encourage and inspire here in Abu Dhabi.
Kim, tell us about your art and your style?
KR: I would describe my current work as contemporary landscape. I trained as a screen printer so you will find this prominent in my work. I experiment with spray paints, metallic foils and often print on unusual materials such as reclaimed timber and concrete paving.
What are your main sources of inspiration for pieces?
KR: At the moment my work is about ‘place’. In the UAE I am inspired by the landscape, the rock formations of Jabal Hafeet and the Hajar Mountains as well as the local streets a little closer to home here in Abu Dhabi.
Aveen, what is your jewellery mission if you have one?
AO: I believe every woman is unique and deserves original design to express herself. Aveen Jewellery’s mission is to create modern, fashion-forward jewellery for fashionable women who love to stand out from
the crowd and have an eye for detail. I am very passionate about using ethical practices in my work and have recently started researching and sourcing ethical raw materials for my pieces.
Tell us about your style of jewellery? Where do you find your inspiration?
AO: Aveen Jewellery is fashion-forward and contemporary jewellery based on original design and creativity, and is inspired by my passion for sculpture. The latest collection incorporates unique gemstones set in natural leather to create striking cocktail rings and statement necklaces. My inspirations stem from my experiences in all the fantastic places I have lived, including the Middle East, Russia, Hong Kong and Asia. I am also inspired by contemporary sculpture and architecture, fashion, and my wonderful international client base who always give me valuable input.
What is Vivienne Morgan Millinery’s mission?
VM: To design and create bespoke hats and headpieces that are unique works of art, that empower women and give them the confidence to stand tall. VMM hats are stylish and elegant, and designed to suit every hat-wearing occasion, whether it be the Dubai World Cup or a wedding at Westminster Abbey. As well as ready-to-wear collections, I also provide a bespoke service, which gives clients the opportunity to provide input right from the initial design stage until completion of their hat.
Where do you find your inspiration for pieces?
VM: The latest VMM collection is inspired by contemporary architecture, period dramas and film (such as Downton Abbey and Anna Karenina) and new-season trends from the catwalk. I’m also constantly motivated by the fashion photography of Tim Walker for Vogue magazine, and great milliners such as Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy who really push the boundaries of what constitutes a hat. But ideas can come from anywhere, and often a piece of vintage trimming or feathers dictates the personality and design of a hat.
What are some key fashion trends for 2012/13? How will you incorporate these into your pieces?
VM: Wearing hats is very in vogue! The latest VMM collection is inspired by some decadent new-season trends from the catwalk, including gem-encrusted embellishments à la Lanvin, Chanel’s opulent and textured fabrics and black lace which has proven very popular on the red carpet. Colour palettes include burgundy and maroon as seen at Alberta Ferretti, and all shades of blue-greens, as well as classic neutrals and black. Vintage millinery veiling is so feminine and flattering, and also features in the new VMM collection. Face veiling prevailed on the catwalks this season, as epitomised by the gauze-like face veiling shown at Dior and Giorgio Armani’s intricately beaded veils.
AO: Aveen Jewellery’s latest collection uses semi-precious rocks and statement organic gemstones inspired by the trends from the autumn/winter 2012/13 season. Huge dazzling gemstones were a prominent feature in the four catwalk shows that stood out the most this season: Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, and Alexander McQueen. This highlights just how important jewellery is in completing an outfit and creating the right mood. Statement jewellery on the catwalk featured amethysts and agates as well as modern jewellery and geometric shapes.
Where do you source your materials from?
AO: The gemstones for Aveen Jewellery are sourced from all over the world and are individually selected through my travels and through trusted suppliers. The gemstone is always the feature of each jewellery piece and the design complements it and brings out its natural beauty. I strongly believe in sourcing ethical stones and metals. We don’t necessarily consider where the raw material for our jewellery comes from, however there is now a strong movement in the jewellery industry towards sourcing ethical materials to ensure good working conditions for the mineworkers, and to help minimise the negative effects the chemicals have on the environment.
VM: Quality is key to the Vivienne Morgan Millinery brand. Millinery materials such as feathers, veiling and silks are sourced from the finest suppliers of millinery and haberdashery both locally and globally. My latest collection incorporates a rare horde of vintage veiling uncovered in London and spectacular richly-coloured feathers acquired from a plumassier in Paris. My latest collection also uses high-quality silks and decorative rhinestone and crystal trimmings sourced from local suppliers in Abu Dhabi. I also up-cycle materials by using vintage millinery fabrics, veiling and trimmings (such as vintage brooches) where appropriate.
What are your joint plans for the future?
AO: We are planning to organise more exhibitions in the UAE to showcase the work of emerging designers. If anyone is interested in taking part please email contact@aveen.co.uk. Above all, we want to encourage more creativity within the Abu Dhabi community that encompasses all nationalities.Our free exhibition will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 10 from 4pm-7pm. To reserve a place on the guest list and for venue details and directions, please email contact@aveen.co.uk, mentioning ‘Time Out’ in the subject line.
For more information on Aveen Jewellery, or to arrange a private viewing, visit www.aveen.co.uk. Vivienne Morgan Millinery pieces are available online at www.etsy.com/shop/VivienneMMillinery. For further details or to arrange a free consultation in Abu Dhabi, email vmmillinery@yahoo.co.uk. Samples of Kim Robertson’s work can be seen at www.kimrobertson.co.uk.
