Onyx

ONYX Leeds Independent Fashion Magazine.

Harvey Nichols

BlazerBCBGMAXAZRIA-£242 • Trousers-SandroPARIS-£175 • Jimmy Choo shoes-£575 •

Model-Sophie Mathews • Stylist/make-up & hair - Neveen Sammour • Photographer-Emily Dickinson

Model-Sophie Mathew

ws •Stylist/make-up and hair - Neveen sammour• Photographer-Emily Dickinson

BlazerBCBGMAXAZRIA-£242 • Trousers-SandroPARIS-£175 • Jimmy Choo shoes-£575•

Victoria Beckham dress-£560 • Lou Boutin shoes-£725 • Model-Sophie Mathews •

Stylist/make-up & hair - Neveen Sammour • Photographer - Emily Dickinson

Victoria Beckham dress-£560 • Lou Boutin shoes-£725 • Model-Sophie Mathews •

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Stylist/make-up & hair - Neveen Sammour • Photographer - Emily Dickinson •

VAUHAUS is a boutique model and creative agency based in Manchester and London.

The team’s work has been published internationally in magazines including Vogue Italia, C-Heads and Bizarre.

Known for their style and personality, the models have featured in campaigns for fashion names such as Topshop, Tzuji and Long Clothing.

Speaking to the founder of Vauhaus, I had the pleasure to have an internship and work along side such an inspirational woman, Toria Brightside.

Toria was a student at Leeds college of Art studying photography, she went on from her studies to focus on fashion photography; she never knew that there was a career in fashion photography.

She was based in Leeds where this was her starting point in her career, she began by just taking photos of people that she thought was quirky and original around the city center, she always wanted to photgraph something bright and colourful to showcase the vibrancy of a persons fashion identity.

T O R I A

B R I G H T S I D E

“I T S O U N D S M O R E HO L LY WO O D”

What is your specific job title at VauHaus?

I’m the CEO bitch! But the gang call me their Agent, it sounds way more Hollywood. That’s my official job title, as for my duties... I’m a scout, manager, trainer, booker, photographer, therapist, music teacher, personal chef and drinking buddy.

How would you describe the concept or service at VauHaus?

We’re a boutique model agency; everything about our organization is quality over quantity. We have edgy and unique faces that differ both from one another, and from what the boundaries of contemporary fashion have been setting for models. We don’t have height, size, hair or modification restrictions because we believe that what makes a good model is providing designers, photographers and essentially the consumer with inspiration. Internet culture has shown that there is a market for this now, and we want to be the pioneers at the forefront of this change.

What was the worst experience you have had whilst managing VauHaus?

The party hangovers are absolutely brutal!

How long has VauHaus been established?

We launched officially in September 2013, but the original gang has been working together in the years before. Hazel, Amber, Charlotte, Charlie, Georgie, Lauren and myself were working on projects together before we founded the agency.

Where are you based? And why did you choose this location?

We are currently based in central Manchester. After the first six months at our headquarters in Leeds, we realized we needed something bigger. Manchester is a city very close to my heart, there is a lot going on here. I needed a challenge; we had outgrown the little city. We currently have a beautiful studio in The Gay Village; you can see rainbows everywhere through our windows after dark. There is a 180 degree view across the city... it’s really inspiring, and super fun. We also represent models in London which I visit for work each month, I’m sure we’ll be opening an office there by the time this year is out!

How many people are currently working at VauHaus?

I officially represent fourteen models and manage three team members; we also have a number of guest photographers and makeup artists that work with us on a regular basis. The gang is ever expanding; we are hosting our first open casting soon so keep your eyes on our instagram, @vauhausagency

Did you ever encounter any challenges in the early stages of starting up VauHaus?

I suppose that depends how you define challenge. I very quickly had to learn a huge amount of technical and interpersonal skills. Some people would consider what I do to be a constant series of challenges, but you become used to increasingly pushing your capacity.

It’s my life now; there is something about the momentum that I really enjoy.

What do you find most satisfying about your job role?

Clients that win competitions, get accepted for editorials etc as a result of the creative team always send us heartfelt feedback, thanking the models and agency for our hard work. It means a lot to hear this; it’s encouraging for everyone. In addition, if me and one of the gang achieve something that we’ve been working hard towards, the high fives and spontaneous dancing is always a highlight.

What do you think that clients find most satisfying working with VauHaus?

From the feedback we have received, I can tell that they enjoy the dedication. We’re all creative, so we interpret visions well. Our clients get a very tailored, personal service. Even though this is a full time business now, we are creatively orientated and always have been...

I can imagine that comes through and contributes towards clients’ impressions. People love the unique looks, the models are all very easy to fall in love with.

The on set banter is of course a major selling point too, you’ll never have a boring day with VauHaus.

What are your aspirations for VauHaus and yourself for the future? And where would you like to be?

Loads of incredible things have happened; this is already such a rewarding and inspiring venture to be part of. I think I can speak for the whole gang and say we will take every great opportunity and make the most of it, continue challenging ourselves, and most of all continue supporting each other.

L e e d s

l i t t

l e

l o n d o n

Leeds and it’s Fashion Street fashion in the City Center •

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A fabulous look of Jordan is wearing a a tarten blazer and trousers from Topman the a shirt from Primark and his shoes are Versus Versace.

Jordan chose this particular ensemble to wear as Co-Ords have a speacial place in his heart.

Shadows on The Edge of This wall Moves without Their feet

Gregory Golden

FASHION CONCEPTS & NEW MEDIA •FASHION FILM • MODEL-ELLIE CURRAN • PHOTOGRAPHY-NEVEEN AL SAMMOUR • HAIR/STYLING/&MAKE UP- NEVEEN SAMMOUR

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The movement of shadow

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Maxine Lee Harris Surface pattern designer

How would you describe your style of work?

My style of work is screen print process based, with the direct influences taken from the 1950’s era.

In anyway, does fashion influence your work?

Yes, fashion does influece my work sometimes, at the start of each project i look at fashion trends and colour palettes which are a key to my development.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working/researching subjects towards my dissertation for final year which is difficult and can see it bein very stressful but it will all be worth it at the end. I have touched on reseach and the idea of what i will be looking at, and it being: What are the benefits of screen-printing in a digital world.

What has been your favorite project that you have worked on and why?

The design direction brief was my favorite as it has allowed me to show off my personal style as a designer and how I work.

How would you describe your personal fashion style?

I would describe my personal fashion style as very Monochrome, I enjoy the colour black, not so keen on the colours, i mean i don’t hate them but i do enjoy monochrome very much, I like layering items of clothing to add detail to my outfits and sometimes complete an outfit .

What is your favorite shop that you find yourself being in all the time when choosing any new clothes? i love Topshop, Zara however I do always find myself back in H&M as it’s style is very basic that I can combine with different items of clothing that will then bring the outfit together.

Lyndarn Harrison Creative Advertisier

How would you describe your style of work?

I’d say it’s quite simplistic, considering the amount of ideation that goes in to it behind the finished piece anyway. As an art director I aim to make finished pieces as aesthetically pleasing as possible, whilst still keeping it simple enough to convey a message clearly within a matter of seconds.

In anyway, does fashion influence your work?

Definitely, fashion’s a huge part of it - it’s important for me to be fully aware of any trends, especially those in fashion. They allow me to engage with and understand a target audience whilst allowing me to present an idea in the most effective way.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve got around 4 briefs going on right now, so a lot… They’re all based around the use of artistic direction and copywriting on a quick turnaround. Right at this moment in time I’m working on a campaign for Giffgaff, which is really fun! It’s all about having the power to choose your own limits, so I have the ability to get a bit risky with it which makes it exciting.

What has been your favorite project that you have worked on and why?

I actually started a self-initiated project recently for TripAdvisor which has been really fun, it’s similar to the Giffgaff campaign I mentioned above in the sense that there’s risk to it which just makes it really exciting. It references Bangkok and ping pong balls in the same piece so you can probably imagine the direction it’s heading in. So I’d have to say that one and the Giffgaff campaign, just because of the risk.

How would you describe your personal fashion style?

Tough one, I wear all sorts really and I like to mix it up everyday. As long as I feel quite neat I’m happy. Let’s just say simple and neat.

What is your favorite shop that you find yourself being in all the time when choosing any new clothes?

Goodhood - it’s rare that I’m ever in London, but when I go down there I always have to visit and I usually end up coming away with something. However, I mainly shop for new clothes online because there’s only a few places in Leeds that sell some of the stuff I’m interested in, such as The Hip Store.

WALLEATER are a innovative indie/Alternative band basd in Leeds band. the five peice band, Rob Dell, Lyndarn Harrison, Liam hemmingway, Alex Finney and Jack Muncaster have been preforming across england and are hitting the music scene with a bang. i had the pleasure of speaking to the drummer of the band and creatve edifor of all their album artwork Lyndarn Harrison to get an insight of the bands fashion and future plans.

So, how long have you been together?

I think we’ve been going for just over a year now, officially anyway. But me and Rob had been doing a lot of things towards it beforehand - on the first demo we released there was only me and him who were actually playing on it, and we’ve known each other for life which I suppose is how we met. Once we’d released the demo we looked for people to join and complete the band, I met Alex on the foundation course at LCA and we had a similar taste in music; I then discovered he played guitar so I asked him if he fancied joining, thankfully he said yes. His friend Tom joined as a bassist for us briefly before moving to London, and was then replaced

by Liam, with Jack joining as a third guitarist just after we’d signed to Tiny Engines in the US to give us a great live sound.

What style of music would you catergorise yourself in and who are your influences?

I always hate this question, I guess it’s difficult for me to place us in a specific genre. So I’ll try my best - it’s a bit rocky, a bit poppy. I think it’s easier just to play people the music and let them make the decision.

Between us we share quite a broad range of influences, but we all share an interest in noisy stuff from the nineties really; My Bloody Valentine, Pearl Jam etc. But we all love Taylor Swift too, so like I said it’s a pretty broad range of influences.

How would you describe your style of fashion as a band, who’s more stylish/ takes their fashion seriously?

Tricky one, we’re generally all quite well dressed. There’s a lot of stripes and most of us shop at the same places, but we all have our own individual styles. I’d say out of the bunch of us me and Jack are most interested in fashion, there’s a constant dialogue between us about what we’re thinking of buying and what we’ve bought. If one of us discovers a new store we tell the other, it’s a mutual love/appreciation.

What exciting new project has the band got coming up?

I mentioned it briefly earlier, but we’ve recently signed to a record label in the US called Tiny Engines and we’re releasing our debut LP ‘I/II’ through them on a 12” in summer. This is pretty exciting for us all and we just can’t wait for it to be physically in our hands. Also we’ll be going in to the studio later this year to record our first full length album, we’re currently writing new stuff for it and it’s going pretty well, so keep an eye out!

Walleater EP cover

ONYX