Shop/Slow is a collaborative venture of 10 designers who each have the vision to counteract against fast fashion and over-consumption.
The local artists want to encourage people to buy quality products less often and support local creativity, all while understanding where the clothing and accessories come from.
The artists include Blue Blank, Courtney Pellow, No work to do, Jason Lingard, Julia Marin, Mofu, Otsu, Out of comfort, Ryan Turner and Elisabeth Kwan.
Ponsonby is a renowned hub for artists to collaborate and to push the buy locally idea. The pop-up will run from February 19-25 on 136 Ponsonby Road.
The wide range available will be a view into the hard work each designer has put into their own collections. A clearance opportunity for some and an introduction to the market for others.
The collection of artists brings different styles, years of experience and reasoning behind their involvement. From clothing, accessories, and jewelry, there is no lack of choice within the pop-up.
Elisabeth Kwan is one designer within the mix who works with fine leather to make bags, and range of other classic staples.
Launching her online Etsy store in 2013, Kwan started selling her first products of leather electronic cases and chokers to Berlin, Stockholm and the States. Soon after her products grew in popularity and Kwan launched into the Auckland market.
Kwan has collaborated with other artists before, and has had previous involvement with the Creative Common Occupation in 2014.
“I had a pop-up exhibition/shop at Allpress Studio,” says Kwan. “After that, I’ve collaborated with a few like-minded leather crafters/ shared workspaces to host leathercraft workshops in Hong Kong and had a HK artist (Lousy) drawing on some of my chokers.”
Kwan is a strong supporter of the meaning behind the pop-up, saying her label resonates with the move against fast-fashion.
“It’s more enjoyable to do a pop up together with like-minded designers in order to bring awareness to our consumers… I’ve taken a step back from fashion, just because of how unsustainable it had become. Most of my products are on a made-to-order basis. So, I’ll be showing my stable pieces such as iPad, iPhone, laptop cases and wallets. During my days at the pop-up, I’ll be sitting there making something and wish to interact with people in that way.”
Kwan’s products are made by hand, which will add an interactive part to the pop-up.
The opportunity to collaborate in the same space as other designers, yet remain centered on individual brands, means the designers can exchange ideas while widening their own audience.
“Our strong beliefs will at least make a noise toward fast fashion and we all get to exchange ideas around it,” says Kwan. “So it helps ourselves to develop more, as an individual or as a label.”
