Plenty of Wellington fashionistas turned up to celebrate the life and designs of one of New Zealand’s top influential and pre-eminent designers, Gus Fisher, at the Wellington ‘Pop Up’ of the New Zealand Fashion Museum at Kirkcaldie and Stains…
Looking Terrific; The story of El Jay in Wellington
On Wednesday 8th September, Thread attended the first Wellington ‘Pop Up’ exhibition of the New Zealand Fashion Museum, curated by Doris de Pont, at Kirkcaldie and Stains, moving on after its successful debut in Auckland.
This “travelling museum” is a display of 30 El Jay vintage garments from 1940 – 1980’s, designed by one of New Zealand’s premiere fashion designers, Gus Fisher.
Gus Fisher’s love of Parisian fashion drove much of his design flair. He travelled to Paris every year and the relationship he had with French designers led to him becoming the longest licensee in the world for Christian Dior in New Zealand, from 1955 to 1988. His own label El Jay was opened with his brother in 1938, and was stocked by many stores including his own in Auckland, The French Shop and El Jay boutique.
Kirkcaldie and Stains in Wellington has had a long association with the El Jay label and it’s no surprise they hosted the second Pop Up exhibition in honour of Gus Fisher. The exhibition was opened by Gus’s son Michael Fisher, as the designer himself passed away this year on 20th July, aged 89. Plenty of Wellington fashionistas turned up to celebrate the life and designs of one of New Zealand’s top influential and pre-eminent designers and enjoyed White Cliff bubbly and snacks along with the clothes.
The designs, which range from 50’s tweed, 60’s mod to 70’s flower power and beyond, showcase the world of New Zealand French-inspired, high end fashion through the decades. The colours and fabrics weave a trip through memory lane.
A look at the past can often inspire the future, so it’s well worth taking a look yourself.
“Looking Terrific: The story of El Jay” is on display until the 4th October, first floor of Kirkcaldies and Stains in Wellington.
By Sally Christie, 8 September 2010.
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