We did our first shoot together probably two years ago now in my parents’ backyard, what have you been up to since then?

Wow, crazy it’s only been two years! I had quite a big year in 2019 which was filled with a lot of fun and self-development – I did a few shoots in Melbourne & Tokyo, started painting, completed a vipassana, co-hosted an event for creatives on k’road and moved to Japan in October. Recently however, due to covid I’ve moved back to Auckland and for the past few months have been readjusting back to life here and focusing on my creative practice.

Today you are living in the apartment above our Mina Showroom on K Rd. How do you find living and working on K Road and being part of such a diverse community?

I love living on K’Road and having access to a plethora of interesting things to experience at my footstep. You never know who you might meet or bump into. There’s a real sense of community here on K’road where everyone knows everyone. It’s nice and makes you feel like you’re part of something. 

As a photographer, how do you ensure you bring your aesthetic to a client's concept?

I’m not entirely sure if I can pinpoint what my photography aesthetic is but I’d like to think that others can see aspects in my work that might not be so obvious to me. When I’m shooting I normally just do what comes naturally and feels intuitively right.

We recently collaborated on a community shoot called ‘In Good Company’ which received a great response! How did you find working alongside Mina? 

I found our shoot incredibly seamless and effortless which I think was due to our aligned vision. I enjoyed being involved in the creative direction from the beginning and found that the whole shoot just flowed organically. Mina’s beautiful designs are incredibly photogenic which is also a big help! 

As a creative what personal values do you live by professionally?

What is your process when drawing inspiration for a shoot?

Depending on the focus of the shoot, I think about how I could best communicate the idea and visually tell its' story. It’s sort of like having a conversation in pictures with my audience – what do I want others to take away from this convo? After determining this, I then do a lot of mood boarding and go from there.

We have all spent so much time at home this year, what rituals or routines have you developed to manage the uncertainty COVID-19 has brought?

For the past two years I’ve been meditating and practicing yoga almost on a daily basis which has helped immensely in these challenging times. 

I also find solace in journaling, painting and going for long walks in nature. These are all my go to rituals when I’m feeling off and need to ground myself. By doing these meditative acts, It helps quieten my mind, allowing space to form in between thoughts which in turn helps me feel more comfortable with whatever happens.  

I have a few look book & campaign shoots coming up as well as a few personal projects which involve painting and video. You’ll definitely be seeing more work come out of me - watch this space.

Your studio is part of your family home in Takapuna, what does an average day look like for CP?

Yes! Juggling motherhood with being a creative was always at the forefront of my mind when I had my son, and we have been fortunate enough to build a small workshop studio in my garden, which has been amazing as the family has grown. This allows me to balance my practice, with spending quality time with my children and being present. 

My days in the studio with my assistant Maya are a joy, they are frenetic and full of activity, music, laughter, making, designing, packing orders and admin.

In contrast, how have you found working at 444 on K Road?

Studio 444 is a wonderful contrast to the chaos of a studio and family life. It has been a joy for meeting clients and I adore the heritage aspect of the building, we are in fine company with Mina also!

Mina x CP recently collaborated on a community shoot called ‘In Good Company’ which received a great response! How do you find working alongside Mina?

It has been a seamless collaboration, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in the working relationship and environment, as we share similar values.

Are you working on any special projects right now?

We have lots of commission work happening, each of these pieces are mini projects that are so multi layered and multi dimensional, they are personal pieces that represent something deeper than the object they become. We also have a new pod collection launching next month, and some permanent fine pieces.

What values define the Charlotte Penman brand?

Strength, depth and meaning are key points for our design process and the feeling for the pieces we send out into the world...we want to make women feel good about themselves, empowered when they wear our jewellery, ready to take on life's challenges.

A love of handmade traditions is at the foundation of our ethos. We hand make many of our pieces in our Auckland studio with these components and this is an important aspect of what we do. Mutual respect, good relationships, mindful practices and environmental impact are at the core of our decision making process. For us this creates a feeling of synchronicity and harmony in the pieces we create.

What or who is your inspiration while creating your designs? Tell us about your preferred materials and why?

My inspiration is definitely woman kind and the rich tapestry of inspiration in music, literature and art. More recently men too, as I have started to work with more guys on their wedding rings. With all bespoke pieces, the client becomes the muse, they are custom pieces that reflect their wearer, all their nuances and all the things about them that make them unique.

The main materials we use for our bespoke and fine pieces are 18-carat gold, platinum and precious gems, they are heirloom pieces that can be passed down through the generations. We use recycled gold and we often repurpose gems for clients and bring to life in new form. We use recycled silver, 18- carat gold plating, rolled gold, pearls and a wide range of gemstones, many of which I have personally hand selected on my travels.

We have all spent so much time at home this year, has this benefited you and your business? How will CP and your family plan to navigate this second wave of COVID-19 uncertainty?

On a personal level it has had many silver linings, I work from home so that was an easy transition on that level, nevertheless homeschooling 3 children and welcoming a husky puppy into the fold has had its challenges. I think through this time it has also been about looking at solutions for how to do things better, create better systems.

As a family, we are dedicated to making this a time of connection and creativity for our children, we have a big garden and live close to the coast, so slowing down and making art, taking our puppies for walks, cooking healthy meals and connecting will be where our focus is. Having a simplified schedule also puts the focus on being grateful for what we have, and working on the things we just have simply not had time for until now.

A website launch! New stockist and a permanent fine collection! 

Hi Michelle tell us a bit about what its like working for Mina and how your role in the business came about? 

And so Mina was launched and a huge learning curve for me. I love what I do and the boss is pretty good too. Working for Mina has opened a whole new world for me. It’s very exciting. I work from my home which is ideal for me as I am a real homebody.  We converted the “kids” TV room into a studio.The only problem is that I find myself in the studio more than I should be. Working from home means you are always at work.

Where did your skills for pattern making originate and what do you do for Mina? 

Good pattern making is a real skill and I am a long way from there, but learning more every day. I think it is a skill you get better at the more you do it. For Mina I do most of the patterns. We also use Pattern Table for the odd one I either can’t do or run out of time to do. I also sample up my patterns to the point of being ready to sample in our preferred fabric.

Mina works with a community of local makers and suppliers, tell us about this experience?

Over the years we have made friends with an amazing group of people. We are all passionate about what we do and would love to see the NZ fashion industry survive. With more and more brands going overseas it is now more than ever important to support our local makers and suppliers.

I do most of the organising when it comes to production and so it’s important for me that the fabric suppliers, button/zip suppliers, pattern graders, cutters and sewers are all relatively close so I don’t spend all my day on the road to source products or check on productions.

What is it like working with your daughter Natalie - designer and sales for the Mina brand?

I love it. We get on really well and as we have different roles in the business (I look after the production side and Natalie does all the rest), we don’t seem to clash that often. Our stresses are usually at different times, so we are generally there for each other.

How do you separate your mother/daughter relationship from the business?

I don’t think we do really. I admire her for being so focussed and driven. She knows exactly where she wants to take Mina and what it should look like. I am very much there in a supportive role, giving advice at times, but generally, Natalie takes the lead. We do try and keep Mina out of our conversations at the weekend, but it is quite difficult, as my husband is very supportive and always wants to know how we are going. 

What are you working on right now?

Once level 3 was announced Natalie and I decided it would be a good initiative to use some of our spare scrap fabric to make some reusable face masks as a replacement of these one-use masks. Since putting them online on Saturday the response has been huge so Natalie and I have been working long days trying to get these out as soon as possible.

My main focus now (once the demand for the masks dies down) though is the production of our summer season. There is always a multitude of things to plan and sort for this. I have also started the design stage for our next capsule. So back to pattern drafting and sample sewing. The stress level is reasonably high with all the delays due to COVID, we are not sure when we will be able to launch our new range.

What styles are you wearing this Winter from the AW20 collection? 

I can pair the Yoli Top with the Studio Pants if I want to go out and look a little more dressed up. I wear my Obom Blazer almost every week, perfect to put over a top and jeans or I will wear the matching Mali Pants if I have a meeting.

Visit

Cindy Leong Photography www.cindy-leong.com

Charlotte Penman Jewellery www.charlottepenman.com

Walker & Bing www.walkerandbing.com

Babelogue Homewares www.babelogue.shop

You may recall we recently featured on Monarc Journal where we talked to Founder Ella Drake about Mina’s community-led initiative, Every Piece Has a Story and our recent campaign Walking the Bushveld featuring Monarc Jewellery.

 At Mina, community is at the forefront of our brand so when it comes to styling we choose to support like-minded businesses that share our values. New Zealand born Monarc Jewellery is crafted using sustainable practices and collaborates with suppliers who share the same view on ethics and the environment.We both share a commitment in our offering of intentional, bespoke designs with longevity in mind and our designs are made to transcend generations through the use of quality materials. 

We are delighted that Monarc and Mina pair so well aesthetically and the campaign has been such a success! Now it is our turn to share a Q&A we did with Ella while she spent lockdown in the UK. We are so excited to introduce New Zealand born Monarc Jewellery as part of our Mina Community.

How have you been supporting local business during this time, and how will you continue to support local businesses once restrictions start to ease? 

I consider myself to be a conscious consumer (pre-covid and before lockdown), but in recent weeks I’ve been thinking more about craftspeople, makers, small business owners etc. and how they’re doing during this time. Ordering from local businesses is such a fulfilling experience - I get to see how my patronage has a positive and direct impact, whether that’s a heartening smile or knowing that my individual purchase goes towards keeping their business going.

Due to recent events, what is the most positive change you have seen in people’s behaviour and attitude? 

I see and feel a number of positive changes on a minor and major scale. Taking a walk around my [London] neighbourhood is so different at the moment. People are smiling, waving at each other andconversing. It feels like there is a new wave of empathy in the air. A commute to work or trip to the shops pre-Covid felt more like an army operation; no eye contact, no time for chit-chat and an absence of general kindness. 

My local community has really banded together in response to the UK’s enforced restrictions. Sourcing food and key household items immediately changed when lockdown came into effect. Online and physical markets couldn’t serve in their usual way, so this encouraged my neighbourhood, including me, to buy local produce and seek out local brands. This experience of slowing down has enabled me to take stock of what I have, purifying the essential, getting rid of the unnecessary and informing who I wish to support moving forward. 

As someone who has made a living from a creative pursuit, how has the time in isolation helped you reflect on, and perhaps hone your craft?

"I’ve found myself a lot busier with projects and customers during lockdown, it’s encouraging to know that people want to connect with Monarc. Isolation has allowed me to get into a kind of zone; I feel more creative and I can make decisions with more clarity and precision.I’ve seen a huge surge in couples wanting to celebrate their commitment after a period of being at home. Perhaps it’s them having time to spend quality time with each other without the usual distractions of modern life that has given them pause to consider the things that really matter to them. 

How do you hope society will maintain the community togetherness that has been so vividly felt in lockdown, once we come out of it?  

I love that we can so clearly see change coming from people helping people, and if enough of us hang onto this feeling and continue this outreach of kindness, it will have an evolutionary effect on society moving forward.In a business sense, I think it’s vital that brands have or add a string of ‘togetherness’ to their bow, and extend beyond just a product offering to give something that’s community focused and not strictly commerce driven. 

Visit Monarc Jewellery www.monarcjewellery.com

Tell us how you got to where you are now

and when you started photography?

Through a lot of love for photography. I have always photographed ever since primary school. Colours, shapes, designs, visual media has always been very intriguing to me. This went from a passion for photographing landscapes, family, anything in life to what is now a full time gig.

My move to PR work and other such commercial environments started in my final year at high school, I experienced a lot of rejection but looked through this to keeping moving forward. 

I had goals back then and I still have goals today. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is incredibly important to progress. I believe trusting myself and taking risks have really helped me get to where I am today. 

 What do you love about

 what you do? 

"In all honesty I love everything to do with photography. I love surrounding myself with creatives as I have a strong love for art, culture, fashion and people. These are also areas I have the pleasure of being immersed in everyday."

Why Fashion?

Fashion has always been an incredibly inspiring world in photography. The photographers of days gone by have turned photographing fashion into an art form itself. I have an enthusiasm for aesthetics, romance and emotion. I believe these key parts of my creativity hold great importance to photography especially my love for fashion.  

How has Covid - 19 changed the landscape of your business. What are the positives that can come from this?

For me and my photography business, I’ve looked at new ways of communication and planning. All this change allows for innovative ways of thinking which are really important to move forward. As a photographer, I believe thinking ahead and grabbing opportunities surrounding new ways of working is really important. 

 This pandemic has shown me how volatile the creative industries can be, one minute you’re working day-in-day-out, the next there’s little to no work in sight. It’s important in these times as a business to be rational and practical. Being too positive and care-free can be really difficult for the heart and mind as things are unpredictable and can move fast. However keeping positive with a balance of realism can be great.