Fashion Flash: JoJo Vanuatu

JoJo I understand you have been based in Vanuatu for over 15 years. What brought you to Vanuatu?

My Vanuatu story starts with sailing rather than fashion. The plan was to leave Sydney and sail around the Pacific, A reconnaissance mission to several Pacific Islands to prioritise which island groups we wanted to visit, landed us on a four-day visit to Port Vila. I walked by an estate agents window and saw a property I liked, the agent actually took us to a different property by mistake, but it turned out to be the one we purchased. Vanuatu was to be our base for sailing around the Pacific.

I believe we each have a few places on earth where the energy is in synergy with your personal vibrational energy. I had found one of those places.

How did you get involved in fashion?

I was looking for an industrial sewing machine to do some repairs to boat sails. During my first year in Vanuatu I was completing my MBA which kept me land based as internet wasn’t available beyond town at that time. The day after I finished, an industrial sewing machine arrived at my door, along with a dress form for Dame Edna Everage and a rare collection of vintage French silks … but that’s a story for another day. I went to Paris to study design and couture techniques and JoJo Vanuatu fashion label was born.

What kind of clothing do you create?

JoJo Vanuatu is a resort wear label, but that doesn’t mean it’s just for swanning around in a resort. My dresses and caftans are worn as wedding party dresses, at cocktail parties, awards ceremonies, on TV, on yachts in St Tropez, on the beach in Mykonos, around the pool at Breakas and in the homes of people who just love the feel of silk against their skin.

I specialise in hand dyed silk, so technically I am also a textile artist. Each of the JoJo Vanuatu garments are one of a kind and produced in my Vanuatu Studio rather than in a factory. I’m a supporter of the slow fashion movement, ethical sourcing and production, and I personally hand dye each garment individually.

Who is it for?

My label is for anyone who appreciates something that is one of a kind.

My garments are affordable as I sell them direct in Vanuatu which is especially good for anyone living in or visiting Vanuatu

You don’t have sizes, what’s that about?

I don’t believe in it … who needs a number? It’s more about the shape of your body and what works for your body rather than size.

My private online clients send me a photograph so I can understand the shape of their body, what neckline, length and hem line will suit them, and what shade of their chosen colour will complement their complexion.

What inspires your work?

The colours and sights of Vanuatu and the South Pacific are my greatest source of inspiration. From coral and fish, to volcanoes and tropical flowers to the coloured feathers worn by people on the island of Tanna. Every single hand dyed silk garment has a specific scene it represents, it might be the colour of the ocean at Breakas today or of the mangoes and papaya at the market, a particularly pink sunset while having a drink at The Grand, or the colour of a wave breaking on the reef at Tamanu.

Your hand dyed silk garments are based on colour therapy, what does that mean?

Wearing or being surrounded by a particular colour can help to rebalance your chakras, each chakra relates to a system within the body. If your thyroid is causing a problem or you need to speak at an event you might find yourself being drawn to turquoise, which relates to the throat chakra. If you are having lower back pain, orange is your go-to colour. Looking at the ocean is relaxing because blue lowers stress levels, heart rate and blood pressure. People are often intuitively drawn to the colour they need at the time. Silk is the ideal medium for colour therapy as it is the fibre that most resembles human skin.

When you are not working in your studio or boutique what do you do in Vanuatu?

Coffee, I drink lots of coffee! I have some Greek Island ancestry and part of that is sitting around drinking coffee for hours. I like working in my studio at night, sometimes all night, so I try to take some time during the day to catch up with friends over coffee.

Among other things, over the years I have been a judge on the tourism awards committee, organised the Vanuatu Cocktail Maker of the year competition and supported kids at Pango School in learning about maths through the sale of Yume dolls.

Due to my previous career in health I’m very interested in cleft palate and club foot, supporting children from the remote islands of Vanuatu in preparing them for surgery or assisting in their follow up appointments and well-being.

What are you plans for the future?

My goals when I started JoJo Vanuatu Fashion Label was to teach in Paris and have my collections in St Tropez and Mykonos, I achieved those goals within the first 10 years.

My plan for the coming decade is to reinvest in Vanuatu, and focus my activity in the South Pacific which is I believe the most beautiful part of the world.

Where can we find your label?

The JoJo Vanuatu studio boutique is at Pango. The boutique carries the JoJo Vanuatu fashion label and a range of personally sourced, interesting guest designer collections made in Europe.

Interesting finds from Vanuatu and around the world – Jewellery, gifts, bags, babywear, cotton sundresses to silk caftans and wedding dresses something for all sizes and budgets.

See: www.facebook.com/jojovanuatufashionlabel Or call +678 599 3003 for current opening times.•