At New Zealand Fashion Week 2025, jewellery designer Jasmin Sparrow joins forces with multidisciplinary artist Jade Townsend for a presentation that transcends the boundaries of adornment. Staged at Gallery Ne Geurra, the installation converges jewellery, art, interior design, and cultural storytelling in a deeply considered dialogue. At its centre: a luminous wall veil of pearls by Townsend, exhibited alongside Sparrow’s sculptural pearl works, together evoking the emotional power of natural materials. Rooted in their 15-year creative friendship, the collaboration is both intimate and expansive – an ode to form, memory, and the artistry that connects what we wear with how we live. Ahead of this intimate presentation, we spoke with Jasmin and Jade about their 15-year friendship, and the intersection between design, art, fashion and craftsmanship.
In Conversation with Jasmin Scott and Jade Townsend
Take us back to the beginning: how did the two of you first meet, and what drew you to one another both personally and creatively?
Jade Townsend: I met Jas when she was hapu with Archie (he is 14 now!). She was about to enter a world of responsibility that I couldn’t relate to. I, on the other hand, was in a far more reckless era… Avoiding pregnancy and anything too serious, ha. Today, I am grateful for her wisdom as we navigate motherhood and running independent businesses in Aotearoa. I rely on Jas for encouragement to adorn myself, dress up, make time for fun, sage advice, a wine at the end of a hard week, an ocean swim to wash the hangover away, and a trusted aunty when I need help with the kids. Her talent and vision are always inspiring to me, but that goes hand-in-hand with her beautiful nature.
Jasmin Scott: We met in Wellington, Jade was styling a shoot and loaned some adornments I was working on at the time. She returned the pieces along with a print of hers with a thank-you note – such a sweet and memorable gesture. The print hangs on the wall in my daughter’s room, 15 years later.
You’ve been friends and collaborators for 15 years, how has that shared history shaped the way you create together? What sparked this collaboration for NZFW?
JT: While our friendship has provided the foundation for this collaboration, it doesn’t replace the vulnerability and challenge that comes with translating two people’s ideas into a single work. We admire each other’s taste in fashion and the way we breathe life into our homes with art, but making something together is a very different and sacred thing. Jas was one of the first collectors of my veil works, so when she suggested that we use that concept as a framework for a collaboration piece, it felt like a natural first step. When you see the work in person, it feels ethereal, yet it is full of many decisions and negotiations. It honors the drama and brilliance of our everyday lives—making beautiful things and drenching our friendships in all the finery we can gather!
JS: Our friendship was founded on creative exchange many years ago. We have grown, travelled, raised families, and danced in and out of each other’s lives over the years. This is the longest time we have lived in the same city. We’re each making bold moves in our practices, both in business and creatively, we have been each other’s biggest allies at a time, I believe, we both need it most. Creating and running a business alone can feel quite lonely—I’m constantly seeking creative collaboration, and this felt like a special opportunity for us to work on something bold together.
Pearls are central to this installation, what drew you both to this material? How do your individual interpretations of it find harmony within this presentation?
JS: I presented Jade with the idea of collaborating on one of her Veils. These artworks are so special and unique, and have such a presence in the home. At that stage, it was an idea and not much more than that—I wasn’t sure what materials we would use, and Jade suggested pearls. I’ve used freshwater baroque pearls in my work since the very beginning. I’ve always been drawn to them—I love their organic nature and the way they catch the light. They symbolise feminine energy, which is fitting; they’re perfect material for this artwork—it’s elegant and dramatic and mesmerising and powerful.
JT: I totally agree! Pearls have that wonderful quality of feeling like they came from both outer space and underwater… They are a whole universe unto themselves. We know the joy that comes with examining the iridescent quality of a single pearl stud or counting pearls on a bracelet as it dangles from your wrist—but what would the experience be with hundreds of pearls? An avalanche. A waterfall of pearls. What if we exaggerated one of Jasmin’s pearl earrings into a big adornment for a wall? Those were some of the provocations that we decided to work from.
How does showing at NZFW differ from presenting in a gallery or art context, and what excites you about this platform?
JS: I admire the way Fashion Week is being approached this year; it’s less rigid and more of a celebration of fashion and beautiful things. Our NZFW event will be hosted by Gallery Ne Geurra in Parnell. Jason, the owner, is a dealer and antiquarian with an amazing eye for rare and unique pieces; it’s the perfect location to showcase the artwork and host an event. We’ve worked with him to curate the space with his collected items, which will sit alongside the artwork and be used to display a selection of jewellery. It’s an opportunity to bring different industries together: fashion, art, interior and architecture, and celebrate community. An unconventional take on a fashion week event, but I hope we create something memorable—a feast for the eyes, executed at a level that makes guests feel they could be anywhere in the world.
After the on-schedule showing, the installation will be open to the public on Friday/Saturday. Why was it important to extend this experience beyond the industry audience?
JT: NZFW has many fleeting, you-have-to-be-there moments across runway shows and talking events. I love the specialness that comes with attending a one off experience, but for us, holding space, fielding questions about our work, and helping people to learn more about our practices demanded a different approach. We both champion inclusivity and accessibility in the arts, so extending the life of the project to flow into the weekend for friends, clients, and anyone with a curious spirit to visit was a great option.
