GRADUATE FASHION WEEK SHAY D PETER JENSEN FESTIVALS ALEX PRITCHARD

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Hutchence highlights the rapid nature of social media and
its importance to young creatives all over the world. “Social
platforms are the best and quickest way to create brand awareness
and identity. Most people we work with we have met through
Instagram...I guess it’s just a lot quicker and easier. You can get to
know a brand in seconds. That is also why it is so important to do
a good job and stay authentic.”
While social media allows young artists, designers and agencies like
Sticks and Stones to roam free in the digital sphere, the freedom is
often accompanied by double standards and regulations that have
come to limit artistic expression. In Hutchence and Fougere’s case,
the agency’s Instagram account got deleted due to a photo that
featured two young women posing in high-cut swimwear with a
little bit of pubic hair peeking from the seams. Hutchence sees
this as an example of common sexism in social media. “Obviously
if it was a man with the same hair, the photo would not have been
deleted,” she states. The agency’s Instagram ban was soon turned
into a public issue concerning the discriminative sexism that led
to a revision of Instagram’s female bush censorship rules.
“It would be impossible for
Instagram to go through
everything and decide what is
porn and what is art.”
However, Hutchence has come to terms with this issue. “It
definitely does bother me a lot when I have to scribble over nipples
on a beautiful natural photo of a woman but to some degree it
[Instagram] is a global business taking into consideration all
religions and cultures so I can understand why Instagram have
censorship laws in place,” Hutchence notes and continues: “Of
course it is very frustrating to see full-on sexual shots that have
covered up just enough to stay up, while innocent natural nudity
gets taken down, but it would be impossible for Instagram to
go through everything and decide what is porn and what is art.”
Regardless of the regulations, Sticks and Stones Agency has found
a way to make the limitations work for them rather than against
them: “I have realised it kind of works in our favour anyway… It
gives followers another reason to go visit our website to see full
uncensored shoots.”
The bush debacle has not been the only time Hutchence and her
husband have been targeted over the Internet. Eighteen months
after the couple’s wedding, their highly stylised wedding photos
went viral and caused a stir all over the Internet. Keyboard warriors
all over the world filled the comment sections with abusive
comments that shocked the couple at first but were soon silenced
by Hutchence and Fougere’s badass attitude. “I think at first we
were a little affected by negative remarks but we quickly realised the
pictures received way more positive media, likes and shares than
they did hateful comments. It’s the Internet trolls who feel they
have to comment, and when you read what they are writing, it is
impossible to take them seriously. Who are these people that get
the urge to write ridiculous comments about complete strangers?
Definitely not the people I would ever want to fuck with anyway!”
Hutchence notes and reveals, “End of the day it was definitely all a
very positive marketing experience for our business.”
taking a stand for all things important to them. “For me, artistic
expression should always be top priority rather than being caught
up in politics,” Hutchence states. When asked about the lack of
minorities in fashion, Hutchence expresses her wishes to see more
diversity in fashion: “It would be amazing to see more variety
in models. We have actually put a few call-outs on Instagram
because there is definitely a lack of ethnic model submissions
coming through.” Based in whitewashed Queensland, the brand
has found it difficult to find ethnic models. “We just don’t have
much cultural diversity at all but, fuck, I wish we did!” Hutchence
states.
Spreading the message of body positivity and natural sexiness,
Sticks and Stones Agency wants to tell a story that young women
will find both sexy and empowering in all of their shoots.
“Anything overly sexual will not be published unless it is a post
about a fetish or a memoir from one of our sex-positive stripper
contributors. We love natural sexiness,” Hutchence notes and
emphasises the significance of the narrative behind every shoot:
“A storyline or a very strong mood is crucial to set the tone for the
brand and its seasonal ranges and to inspire people to buy into
that collection.”
During the six years of its existence, Sticks and Stones has come
to represent the natural weirdness and candidness which have
made them stand out amidst thousands of fashion brands floating
around the Internet. Fighting the stiffness of high-fashion
editorials, the couple started organising live photo shoot events –
“Camera Clubs” – which allowed the models to bring their own
creativity into the sessions whilst acting out roles given to them
beforehand. “We would pause them when they did something
that looked like a good shot and the pictures always turned out
incredibly natural looking!” Hutchence explains.
“For me, artistic expression
should always be top priority
rather than being caught up in
politics.”
There is a feeling of authenticity and warmth in the work of
Sticks and Stones Agency. They have created a business that
is as fun as it is odd. In every piece of work, Hutchence and
Fougere’s fingerprints can be seen in the bold colours and quirks
that make them stand out. “When shooting fashion stories,
we always look for brands that offer a lot of colour, sequins or
vintage inspired pieces. My favourites are Discount Universe,
Emma Mulholland, Dyspnea and Zhivago.” Hutchence notes
that in the end, it all comes down to one thing: the way you
treat the people around you. “End of the day, we usually work
with brands that have nice people behind them,” Hutchence
explains and summarises the 4-1-1 of working in the fashion
industry in five sentences: “Be authentic. Don’t look at how
other people are doing it. Make it up as you go. Be good to
people. Don’t be a fashion wanker.”
Working in fashion without getting political is hard, yet Sticks and
Stones Agency has found a way of remaining democratic whilst