At the tail-end of the Fashion Week bonanza, Trendstreet sat down with Yvan Rodic a.k.a. Facehunter to find out more about his second visit to New Zealand…
At the tail-end of the Fashion Week bonanza, Trendstreet sat down with Yvan Rodic a.k.a. Facehunter to find out more about his second visit to New Zealand, Auckland nightlife, his top three international Fashion Weeks and who, in the opinion of this internationally acclaimed trend-spotter, was the most stylish person at NZFW 2011.
Trendstreet – You were here in 2009 but you were able to spend a bit more time this time around, how did you find it? Was it better or worse?
Yvan Rodic – It wasn’t better or worse, it was just a different experience because last time it was more of a personal trip and this time I got to experience more of the fashion scene. It was more like a concentrate of fashionable people. I got to see more of the industry. Last time it was more like seeing the city but I (still) had a bit of fun. I had a Face Hunter party. It was pretty fun actually.
So I cannot say if it’s worse, better. It seems like it’s not the same. I cannot compare as it’s not like I have been two times to the Fashion Week, but it’s still exciting to be here. It is still a pretty internationally unusual place to go to, especially to discover fashion.
Yvan Rodic pictured left with Gary Pepper Vintage, and below with Natalie Cantell.
Trendstreet – You’ve been both to Wellington and Auckland now, how would you compare the Wellington fashion style to the Auckland style?
Yvan Rodic – I felt that Wellington has more of an indie style and Auckland, just because it’s bigger, more cosmopolitan and diverse, (so) you get a bit of everything actually.
Trendstreet – You’ve been to Australia and New Zealand, do you think that Australians and New Zealanders have different styles?
Yvan Rodic – I think they are different, obviously. I guess it’s a different culture (in Australia) and because the climate is different, the culture is different. I think Australia definitely has more of a beach culture. Girls are more likely to want to look like “babes”. I am exaggerating but there’s more this myth, like, “I’m going to look good on the beach”, which is the core of their aesthetic and these people spend more time being half-naked so they have more body-awareness, a body culture, sexiness.
Trendstreet – As opposed to wearing layers of clothing?
Yvan Rodic – Exactly, and I think that NZ is definitely a bit less hot. I mean you go the beach, but it is not as central to the culture so people wear more layers and it is more inhibited.
Yvan Rodic pictured below with Maria Shans from Trendstreet.
Trendstreet – A bit more British maybe?
Yvan Rodic – Um, a little bit but I haven’t been struck by the Britishness. Actually, in Australia you have this British-meets-beach-culture. I find Australia more British. I think Auckland is so diverse that you don’t feel like you’re in a British Commonwealth country. I mean, the countries are definitely quite different. People in Europe would put them together because they are close to each other but they are quite distinct. I was at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in May and you would see a lot of designers doing cut-offs. It’s a very big thing in Australia. On one hand, they want to wear something tailored that looks like fashion but it’s hot so they have this, sort-of, solution and it’s something that you don’t see here. I think it’s very distinct, definitely.
Trendstreet – How do you find it having to travel all of the time. It must be pretty tough?
Yvan Rodic – Yeah, it’s tough but when you get the chance and the opportunity to do it, why would you save yourself? It’s not a rational choice to live like that but it’s one of the most exciting (things) that you can ever imagine. It is tiring but the excitement is usually higher – it’s worth it. Sometimes, I feel – wow – I’m going to 20 places but at the same time, how can you say no to someone inviting you to New Zealand? And how can you say no to someone inviting you to Baku? There are a million projects and places but why not do it while you can (still) do it.
Trendstreet – Where are you off to next?
Yvan Rodic – I’m flying back to London. Actually, I’m flying to London but I’m going to Brighton for one day, back to London for one day then Budapest for two days. I’m going to be part of a street-style conference at a Museum to which 400-500 students are going to come. Then I’m giving a lecture in Budapest and from there I’m flying to New York to start the fashion month.
TS – Do you ever have holidays?
Not really, I’m hyperactive. Anywhere that I would like to go in the world, if I go there anyway, then why not have fun and why not have a camera with me.
Trendstreet – Because it’s your job…
Yvan Rodic – It’s beyond the job-job that you hate. It’s perverse because you are never “off” and you’re never “on”. I would say that there are different kinds of trips that you have. Fashion months are the most intense and hard-working because it’s non-stop. Then you have trips that are slightly more “personable” (sic), often in November or December when I go to Australia, Asia and I have less projects maybe for, like, a couple of weeks. I travel a bit less maybe. It’s not a holiday because I am still active but it’s more relaxed.
Trendstreet – While in Auckland, did you go to many parties?
Yvan Rodic – Not many but a couple. I haven’t been to many fashion parties as there weren’t so many of them. Last night (I went to the) Huffer (party) at Racket (bar). I’ve been to Stolen Girlfriends Club. I went to Cassette, I’ve been there a few years ago. It’s alright but, maybe, it’s kind of juvenile.
Trendstreet – It’s very indie, isn’t it?
Yvan Rodic – Kind-of trendy-indie, but trashy actually. This was after the Stolen Girlfriends party and we ended up going to another place. Overall, I haven’t seen much nightlife but Racket was actually pretty cool. It is better in the summer when you have the outdoor part but I think that it is one of the nicest places that I’ve been to.
Trendstreet – Out of the Fashion Weeks that you’ve been to, which one is your favourite one? Which one stands out in your mind?
Yvan Rodic – I guess there are different categories of Fashion Weeks. You have the top four that are somehow very, a lot of work, a lot of pressure. Everyone is there, everyone wants to shoot and you have to fight to get every shot. These ones are exciting because there are more expectations and more opportunities, more jobs. There is everything to do and see and meet but, at the same time, it’s more stressful. Then you have the outsiders that could be interesting. For example, I like the Sydney one because, on one hand, I could get a lot of good shots but there was not as much pressure and it’s not as stressful. I like the Copenhagen and Stockholm Fashion Weeks, and Sao Paulo as well. I’ve been to it a few times. It’s quite a big one but it’s still more relaxed than Paris. There’s a lot of good stuff actually and it’s still not so known internationally so if you go there then your shots, somehow, are more special than if you just go to Paris or New York.
Trendstreet – Because you’re not just-another-blogger there…
Yvan Rodic – Even so, you have to be there (Paris & New York). You cannot miss the “top four”. It’s somehow less surprising for your readers but they want it somehow.
Below; with guys from FOUREYES blog.
Trendstreet – If you had to rank them, what would be your top three?
Yvan Rodic – I would still say Paris (is number one).
Trendstreet – Just off the top of your head…
Yvan Rodic – I don’t know, Sao Paulo then Stockholm.
Trendstreet – Now that you’ve experienced NZ Fashion Week, what do you think of it?
Yvan Rodic – I guess it’s a growing field in New Zealand (referring to fashion). It’s quite an eclectic mix between things that I really like and I find have international potential and some other designers that I didn’t really find were my cup of tea.
Trendstreet – We want your honesty…
Yvan Rodic – I’m happy I came here, a couple of good shows.
Trendstreet – Was there a designer that you particularly liked?
Yvan Rodic – I liked Blak Luxe, Salasai, Jimmy D and Huffer.
Trendstreet – Have you met many NZ bloggers?
Yvan Rodic – Not so many actually. Usually everywhere I go, half of the crowd is bloggers. But here, there’s not many bloggers compared to other countries.
Trendstreet – Could it be the size of the population, NZ is only about 4 million people?
Yvan Rodic – It’s not a size thing, it’s more cultural I guess. Sweden, for example, is not exactly a big country, 9 or 10 million (people).
Trendstreet – Twice the size of NZ…
Yvan Rodic – Yes, but there are so many more bigger countries in the world who were not blogging when Sweden started about 6 or 7 years ago. It was one of the pioneering countries. It was one of the first countries in the world where bloggers would become professional already back in 2006. They really have this strong blogging culture and they are not so big. It’s not the size, it’s just more (the fact) that fashion is not a big-big-big topic here I guess. It’s more about the interest. Because blogging is something that you can do without any structure. You can live in a small town and become a blogger. I don’t think that the size (of the country) is the explanation.
Trendstreet – Who were the coolest and most stylish people that you have seen or met during NZFW?
Yvan Rodic – The coolest girl who was cool, stylish and flawless was probably Natalie (Cantell). She’s from here but she lives in Sydney and she goes to Europe but she is definitely the most elegant. She’s beautiful and grown-up, and playful. … She is feminine and stylish but it’s not boring. A beautiful girl can go, “I’ll play it safe” … because they know they look good anyway.
So there you have it fashionistas of New Zealand. Have fun, always have your camera ready, be stylish but don’t be afraid to take risks… And, if you still haven’t done so, then drop what you’re doing, sign up for a Blogspot account and let’s show Sweden a thing or two! Because despite the presence of international talent the most stylish person at NZFW, as the Facehunter himself pointed out, was a Kiwi lass…
Trendstreet.co.nz
Photo credit – Yulia Leimani
Leave a Reply