Iconic Australian brand Sir and Yan Yan Chan have always been a formidable duo. A unity of friendship, collaboration and overflowing creativity; it's this Holy Trinity that has always made their relationship unique. From muse, to creative confidante and now collaborator, founders Nikki Campbell and Sophie Coote, and Chan have brought their unwavering bond to life. A collection of memories of people, places and moments in time celebrated with an intimate dinner – hosted by Chan – at Sir's flagship boutique in Bondi Beach.
Celebrating Sir x Yan Yan Chan's highly-anticipated collection, which is set to launch on January 25, the long dinner was an homage to the trio's ever-growing friendship and the memories made along the way. A connection Chan spoke fondly of during her speech; mentioning the instant connection she formed with Campbell and Coote during a trip to Bali.
The soundtrack to friendship and collaboration? Carla Uriarte and the continuous 'cling' of glasses, with Belvedere drinks curated and hosted by Arlo Communal, of course. The long table stretched far and wide, overflowing with an unmissable dinner served banquet style from China Diner. The vibrancy of flavours and food a perfect match for the electric collection that lined the store's walls.
Naturally, though, what's a party without a stellar guest list? RUSSH favourites Mimi Elashiry, Roberta Pecoraro, Ilkin Kurt, Duc Thinh Dong, Georgia Fowler, Sarah Ellen, Mikka, Victoria Lee and Gab Penfold were all in attendance – and what a joyous night it was.
Ahead of last night's events, we spoke to Chan about how the collection came together, her biggest learnings throughout the process and collaborating with friends. Plus, you can see all the best moments from the night, captured by our very own Kitty Callaghan, below.
Can you tell me about how the collection with SIR came to fruition?
It’s been a natural progression, they’ve always been in my creative umbrella. We’ve collaborated on so many different forms of mediums, that it only made sense to delve deeper in that creative process and create something tangible that spoke to both our audiences. They really gave me the space and opportunity to step into a leading role alongside them, to do that with long time friends is a dream.
You have had a long-standing relationship with SIR and worked with the brand across several different projects over the years. How did it feel to be working alongside the team in a different creative capacity for this collection?
They probably don’t know this, but both Nikki and Sophie have had such a distinct impact on the growth I had to do as a 21 year old. They’ve instilled so much confidence and perspective in my friendship with them and also in my career – they do this for everyone around them. Being able to experience that in full force was very inspiring, and it definitely cemented my love for design… this is only the beginning.
What was the vision behind the collection and how does it speak to your own personal style cues as well as SIR’s signature styling and silhouettes?
When I first made the vision board, I was really serious about the whole process. Two months in, I realised that this collection is anything but serious. It’s a personal reflection on a lot of really fun memories and experiences that have sparked immense joy in my life.
The knit pieces are named after a club in Paris, where I (and the girls) celebrated my 25th birthday.
Reds and sunburnt shades seem to play such a crucial role in the colour palette of the collection. Are these colours that inspire you?
Red is such a vital colour. It’s the energiser, it’s power, it’s courage, and it really is a colour that suits everyone. People can be afraid of it, but it makes you look alive. And of course it’s an ode to my Chinese roots.
You have been working with SIR. on this collection for over a year. What has been the biggest learning from the process?
It’s been a pretty insane learning curve for me, but the biggest lesson has been trusting my instincts, leaning into the process for all its ups and downs, and definitely communication! Haha.
How do you hope this collection inspires the people who will wear it?
Every piece means something to me, I want people to feel light and happy. I want them to make memories in them, and I want them to live in it.
Tonight is all about celebrating friendship and collaboration. How important is it to you to work with likeminded people who you share a deeper connection with?
Oh it’s everything! It makes me feel ignited and I think right now more than ever it’s about celebrating each individual person, their perspective, and really honouring that. We don’t get to do that too often.