Session stylist Matthew Curtis made an offer PROJECT: X couldn’t refuse – to come and assist backstage at New York Fashion Week. And with just a few days notice, several members gathered their kit bags and jumped on a plane to the city that never sleeps!
Matthew, who also has a salon in Straford-upon-Avon, invited the team to join him to work on three shows. “I’ve always been a huge ambassador of supporting the next generation of stylists and, this year, one of my team members is taking part in PROJECT: X and given the great opportunity of being mentored over the course of a year by leading figures in the industry.”
Having led shows around the world for the past 12 years, Matthew extended the offer to the team with several agreeing at short notice. The weekend saw them work on British band Hardware LDN, designed by Jessica Horwell, followed by leading South Korean designer, Son Jung Wan, and a New York based collective of designers at Flying Solo.
Matthew added: “The PROJECT: X team is varied and obviously each individual had different strengths, which made for an intriguing and versatile team to have joined us at NY, and when it came to work, they embraced the looks for each of the shows really well. The team were happy to take on these new looks and adapted to each of the shows straight away. It was great to work with the team and give them an insight into what session work is really like. Most of all, it made me realise that what I can take for granted and the position I’m in is where I would of loved to have been at their stage so although I’m still striving for bigger and better myself, if I can give back and help guide more and work with a legacy foundation like the Fellowship, I will always be at the end of the phone.”
PROJECT: X leader Sam Burnett, said: “This was an incredible opportunity for the team members and they haven’t stopped talking about it since they returned. It gave them a real insight to working in a fast-paced environment and big thanks to Matthew, Unite Hair and Olivia Garden for making this an unforgettable experience.”