MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • On Trend
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • On Trend
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Career

Weekend Plans: Catch Jenny Kee And Linda Jackson's Fashion Exhibition

Colour me happy - by Saskia Tillers
  • 15 Nov 2019
Weekend Plans: Catch Jenny Kee And Linda Jackson's Fashion Exhibition

We sat down with the iconic design and art duo ahead of their exhibition opening...

MC: Your exhibition Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson: Step Into Paradise explores your creative partnership over the past 40 years. Take us  back to the day you first met...

LJ: It was at an exhibition in Sydney, and we just stood there and looked at each other.

JK: It was creative love at first sight. She looked straight out of a ’50s movie, and designed and made these exquisite clothes. There was an instant camaraderie. When we were together it was like we were in a bubble – we only vibed with each other.

Jenny Linda

Jenny & Linda in the early years

Jenny Linda

MC: From your infamous liaison with John Lennon to selling clothes to Mick Jagger in London, Jenny, what was it like being in the epicentre of a legendary era?

JK: It was a completely unique situation because there will never be another Chelsea Antiques Market [in London], where we dressed up in vintage Balenciaga and Fortuny with the most fabulously creative people. [But] when I came back to Australia afterwards, it had the energy of a country that was about to happen – so I never looked back.

MC: Jenny, you opened Flamingo Park Frock Salon in Sydney’s Strand Arcade in 1973, which stocked many of Linda’s designs. What were those early days like?

LJ: We’d come from travelling the world in opposite directions, so all the things we’d been inspired by joined up. We weren’t the type of people who wanted to have a big business. [It was] personal, the way we’d greet people, make friends with everyone.

JK: It was an amazing hub that attracted all the actresses, artists, musicians, singers and lm directors. People flocked [in] not just to see what beautiful things we were making, but [also for] the atmosphere – even [to hear] what music we were listening to. We set trends.

LINDA

Jenny & Linda in the early years

LINDA

MC: Jenny, you’ve said before that growing up as a mixed-race child in Australia helped you learn to embrace your differences.

JK: It did, because I [grew] up in a racist country. My Chinese relatives wanted to t in. But when I hit puberty, I thought, “I am different and I want to be different.” There was strength in not being like anyone else. I was going to leave my mark – “I’ll show you!” I had that drive. I knew this face was something people weren’t going to forget.

MC: In 1982, a photograph of Princess Diana wearing your “Koala” jumper went viral, and the following year, Karl Lagerfeld used your opal designs for 65 garments in his rst Chanel show. What was it like being catapulted onto the international stage?

JK: That was a big moment, because Princess Diana was the princess dream of all. She looked so gorgeous – I loved her being in my knit. The whole thing with Karl Lagerfeld, well, equally he was transfixed by [our designs]. People were falling in love with Australia, discovering it for the first time through lm and music, and we were sort of pioneering that discovery.

jennykeeoz View Profile
1,373 likes - View Post on Instagram
Bless you Princess Di..36 years ago 💛🙏🌟💛 #jennykee #wool #australianfashion #australianartist

MC: You were ahead of the times in your approach to sustainable fashion. Why was that?

LJ: We’ve always had a love of the ocean, the blue sky and the bush. We were never thinking about making things you’d wear once and get rid of – they were bespoke, special. And we’re still wearing them!

MC: You’re both style icons, but looking back, are there any outfits you regret wearing?

JK: Mistakes are fabulous. There can’t be any regrets. That’s the only way to see life. I could never change anything about the way we did everything, because we had unlimited freedom. We just did it and the world took notice.

jennykeeoz View Profile
872 likes - View Post on Instagram
WOW! Big Billboard! Only 2 weeks to go..Our Show 'STEP INTO PARADISE' Opens 17 October @powerhousemuuseum @opallindaoz #jennykee #lindajackson #powerhousemuseum #stepintoparadise #maas

Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson: Step Into Paradise is at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney until March 22, 2020.

This article originally appeared in the December issue of marie claire Australia. 

  • News
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Events
  • Celebrity

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Kelly Rowland Opens Up About Her Sisterhood

Kelly Rowland Opens Up About Her Sisterhood

Put These Artists On Your Radar - Stat

Put These Artists On Your Radar - Stat

Prince Charles Gets Royally Caught Up In Counterfeit Art Scandal

Prince Charles Gets Royally Caught Up In Counterfeit Art Scandal

 Brisbane's Hottest Hotel Honours Art's Power Couple

Brisbane's Hottest Hotel Honours Art's Power Couple

{headline}

{headline}

Sarah Blasko Gets Candid About Female Friendship

Sarah Blasko Gets Candid About Female Friendship

Bumble Brings Their BFF Mode To Life For International Friendship Day

Bumble Brings Their BFF Mode To Life For International Friendship Day

This Is The Important Reason The NGA Is Opening Its Doors For 24 Hours On Saturday

This Is The Important Reason The NGA Is Opening Its Doors For 24 Hours On Saturday

{headline}

{headline}

Michelle Obama And Angelina Jolie Have Been Named This Year's Most Admired Women And We Concur With This Statement

Michelle Obama And Angelina Jolie Have Been Named This Year's Most Admired Women And We Concur With This Statement

Livia Wang Shares Her Five Steps For Building A Beauty Empire

Livia Wang Shares Her Five Steps For Building A Beauty Empire

Stella Women: Leah Simmons on empowering women to improve their life

Stella Women: Leah Simmons on empowering women to improve their life

Joy Crookes Is A Tour de Force Who Won’t Settle For Less

Joy Crookes Is A Tour de Force Who Won’t Settle For Less

Anna Torv On The Women Who Shaped Her

Anna Torv On The Women Who Shaped Her

Meet The Curator Of The Most Prestigious Indigenous Art Award In The Country

Meet The Curator Of The Most Prestigious Indigenous Art Award In The Country

Meet The Winners Of The ‘Telstra National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Art Awards'

Meet The Winners Of The ‘Telstra National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Art Awards'

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
MarieClaire Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Elle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • beautyheaven
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to Marie Claire