ARTIFICIAL GRACEFULNESS:
JAEHA ALEX KIM
Text and Interview: Daniel Ahwa

Jaeha Alex Kim has a certain je ne sais quoi. In one meeting he can display a range of emotions from vulnerability, happiness, skepticism, and a level of confidence people twice his age struggle to find. At just 21 years of age, this emerging design talent has already garnered the right amount of attention from those within the industry to help foster his talent. A graduate from AUT in 2006, the Jaeha label has already walked down the catwalk at Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2006 as part of the Rookie show and at the Vodafone ID Emerging Designer Awards 2007. With a growing portfolio of stockists in New Zealand and Australia, the arrival of Jaeha as a fully fledged New Zealand designer will be realised at this years Air New Zealand Fashion Week with Jaeha debuting his Winter 2008 collection alongside up and coming labels, Salasai and Chelsea Thrope.

Miss Crabb designer Kristine Crabb admires his ambitious streak, whilst www.runwayreporter.com founder and noted fashion writer Stacy Gregg claims that Jaeha is “one of the most exciting fashion visionaries to come of the polytechnics in the past few years.”

His second season for Spring Summer 2007/2008 titled ‘Artificial Gracefulness’ is a literal interpretation of the hectic and interconnected world we live in. Taking this into account Jaeha merges earth observation satellite images of Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney to create a unique t-shirt print; whilst drawstrings on almost every piece are a key feature, allowing the wearer to wear it their way. Wear it out, tuck it in, drape it or cinch it at the waist, Jaeha's intricate attention to detail on each garment and the ability to turn a skirt into a cape, or a dress into a scarf is testament to Jaeha's exploration of the form, origami techniques and drape, allowing garments to form naturally to the body. Also key to the new range is the distinctive colour palette of black, white, grey, citrus and Yves Klein blue.

Directional in every way, Jahea's approach to fashion may not always be conventional, but is an approach that is a golden ticket out of fashion squaresville and into an exciting new future within the fashion industry, both locally and internationally.

Introducing Jaeha Alex Kim…