Remix talks to Jordan Gibson of Gubb & Mackie
Jordan Gibson has always had a natural instinct when it comes to fashion, staying on the cusp of what’s cool in trends and design. Having now spent five years as the creative director of menswear label Gubb & Mackie, Jordan sat down with Remix writer Fiona Connor to talk about being a core part of the iconic New Zealand fashion brand.
What does it mean to you to be creative director of Gubb & Mackie?
It’s great to be involved with a brand that has such a heritage and background and to be able to continue that. The creative output of the brand is what interests me the most. Having that direction over the look of the product, the way the store feels, the staff and that whole experience is important to me.
What steps did you take to turn your passion into a career?
I had always wanted to work in fashion, but it took me a while to work out how I could contribute and it was a process of exploring different things. My study background was creative; fine arts was a big part of my schooling and I think I came to realise something more commercial was what inspired me. It’s always been about putting myself in the types of environments that I want to work in and that started with retail. I would go to shops I liked, spend time there, get to know the people that work there and then opportunities would come up. That sounds simple but I think a big part of it was just showing up and that eagerness to be involved.
When you were younger thinking about going into fashion, did you ever see it as a challenge being a guy in the fashion world?
I think when I was younger I was quite conscious of that. I’m attracted to areas of clothing and retail that aren’t so ‘fashion’ based; I’m not interested in the big spectacle fashion can be. I like consumer products and the environments I’ve been in I’ve always fit into and found my place. When I was younger I was more aware of it and maybe early on there was some insecurity around that, but I think you get to a stage where enough people accept you and you become more confident.
What sort of values are important to Gubb & Mackie?
It’s important to us to be approachable and that’s something I try to do with our store. It’s a slick environment, so there could be some intimidation around that. Particularly with young guys, we like to be really inviting, we want to cultivate that community feeling and have people feeling like they can be involved. If there’s a young photographer and he wants to work with us and shoot some gear we encourage that; whatever it is we can do to make people feel connected. Our clothing is classic and sophisticated, but it’s also laid back and the garments are made to be enjoyed and worn. It’s down to earth.
What’s the overall vision for Gubb & Mackie?
To create an environment and a brand that completely covers this smart casual/business casual look. We try to answer all of your wardrobe requirements if you’re not someone that wears a suit five days a week. Our store in Auckland is a boutique size and the brand is growing, but that’s the goal. We’re known for our casual jackets and shirts, then we’ve complimented this with jeans from Japan, canvas sneakers and we also have great New Zealand-made t-shirts, bomber jackets, that sort of thing. We think we can carve out a niche that sits nicely between suits and street wear, something that’s not too formal and not too casual.
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