HARMAN GRUBIŠA SET THEIR SIGHTS ON GLOBAL DOMINATION
When you first meet Madeleine Harman and Jessica Grubiša, the dynamic creative duo behind the widely celebrated Harman Grubiša brand, you can’t stop yourself from jumping to automatic conclusions about these two contrasting personalities — putting their
Vivacious brunette Madeleine is rifling through the racks of Harman Grubiša clothing in the brand’s workroom. She settles on a classic white wrap shirt and instantly looks like Jackie O; glossy straight hair pulled into such a carefree half-tuck — that hairstyle mere mortals can never quite pull off — it almost makes you think she just glides through life. It’s an assumption that her ease and warmth of manner do nothing to dispel. Meanwhile, witty and well-spoken Jessica, with her wild platinum locks, penchant for mirror selfies, and today, self-described “Mr T vibe” of accessorising with layers of chunky vintage Dior necklaces, has an air of self-assuredness that puts her well beyond her 28 years. She speaks about business challenges — and life in general — with the insight of someone who has been there, done that. And you get a sense from her go-getting attitude and full-on schedule, she probably has.
Delve deeper and that instant yin-yang assumption you just made grows legs. For despite their polar opposite personalities, personal styles and design aesthetics, these ladies are like two puzzle pieces that, while completely different in essence, have complementary characteristics that mean they fit together just so.
It is this collaborative synergy that has propelled them to the top of the New Zealand fashion industry in such a relatively short time frame. Since launching their eponymous label in 2014, they have received rave reviews for their debut show at NZ Fashion Week, opened a flagship boutique on Auckland’s exclusive Jervois Road, received the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Presents accolade in 2016 and been nominated twice for the International Woolmark Prize within Australia and New Zealand, missing out last year but taking out the regional title in 2017. They will travel to Florence in early 2018 to compete for the grand prize, previously won by elite fashion legends including Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld.
Fashion Quarterly sat down with the pair to talk about their unique dynamic, the future of Harman Grubiša, and how their constant reinvention has led to a partnership with tech brand HP.