Stolen Girlfriends Club have just launched their latest collaboration with local designer Ziggy Knuiman. We caught up with both Marc Moore (of SGC) and Ziggy at the collaboration launch in the Stolen Girlfriends Club flagship shop in Newmarket, Auckland last week.
MARC:
SP: This is a fun collab! How did it come about?
I’ve really been wanting to open our Newmarket space up to young artists. Before I started Stolen Girlfriends Club, I held my first art show in a store along High St. I remember how hard it was to find a good space to show my work. To be able to host young artists at our store now really feels like a full-circle
moment for me! I’ve known Ziggy for a while now, I’ve watched him over the years as he has
developed his art, and it really caught my eye. Late last year after posting a few of his artworks on Instagram, I really loved them and reached out to see If he would be open to a collaboration. It’s really nice for our first featured artist to be from my hometown.
SP: There is a bit of an age gap - did you know each other growing up?
I had relocated to Auckland from Raglan when Ziggy was born, so didn’t really know him as a youngster. We didn’t really meet until he came to Auckland around 2016 to do an internship with us.
I knew Ziggy’s parents when I was growing up, my mum’s best friend was also good mates with Ziggy’s mum, Penny so would see them around. Ziggy's dad, Wayne is also an avid surfer so we would chase waves sometimes.
SP: What did you envision for this collaboration?
I wanted to see people walking around in Ziggy's work. It’s so psychedelic and so raw. When you’re an artist, it’s always nice to see your work on people's walls, but when you can see people walking around in your art – it’s even better!
SP: What is the difference between working with an artist as opposed to your
own design prints?
Making the actual artwork is probably one of the hardest parts of doing these print pieces. So, when the artwork has already been done it does reduce a few steps naturally. Working with actual paintings it does present a few challenges. Ensuring the colours and tones match up to the original is integral, as well as getting the placement and positioning of the art onto the garment in a way that is not too abstracted or spliced up.
SP: What is your favourite print in the collection?
For me it’s ‘BLUES GOT A HOLD OF ME’ – this is the crimson-coloured piece we used on one of the shirts.
SP: How would you describe Ziggy Knuiman as an artist?
Psychedelic / Surrealist / Punk.
SP: Lastly, what have you got planned for the upcoming summer?
We are working on our upcoming Showroom presentation at Paris Fashion Week. We have appointments with some of the best stores in the world, so it’s a matter of putting our best foot forward and ensuring we come away with some wins. Pretty exciting! On top of that – I’M GOING SURFING!
Marc Moore and Ziggy Knuiman standing in front two of Ziggy's prints.
ZIGGY:
SP: Hi Ziggy! Congratulations on the collaboration. This must be exciting for you?
I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity, it’s an honour to collaborate with such a well-established brand.
There is a bit of an age gap - did you know each other growing up?
Raglan is a tiny place where everyone knows everyone, but I’m quite a bit younger than Marc, he knows my parents though and that is how I got an internship with them when I was younger.
SP: What did you envision for this collaboration?
Basically exactly what Marc and the Stolen team made was what I envisioned. Eye-catching statement pieces with some confronting artwork all over. They did a fantastic job!
SP: You've accomplished a lot at only 24! Especially in such a difficult industry. Did you always want to be an artist? Do you personally find the industry difficult?
Thank you! I started making art when I was 20 and ever since then I was hooked! I think it can be hard to stand out of the crowd sometimes, but my experiences with the industry have all been positive so far, I’ve met some awesome creative people!
SP: These prints are SO cool and SO bold. Can you tell us a bit about the process for the designs and what inspired them?
My ideas usually come to me once I’ve started painting, a lot of the time I’ll just start pushing paint around on a canvas until something starts to take shape, and then the ideas start flooding in. Letting ideas naturally take form in this way usually allows my subconscious brain to take over and I’m always
surprised by the end result.
SP: Lastly, what have you got planned for the upcoming summer?
Just keep getting better at my craft. I love to paint more than anything, so I’ll hopefully be busy getting ready to tackle another big project for next year!