Adelaide, Australia based Sam James is the director and owner of the Sj Establishment Salon. She is a four-time SA/TAS Hairdresser of The Year 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019 and winner of the National Editors Choice Award 2019.
I want to share this PLAY COLLECTION which takes Sam James as a finalist at the AIPP Awards 2019-2020.
“For this collection, I was inspired to throw my mind back to the 1970s and explore the endless possibilities in an era that saw the term ‘freedom of expression’ take on new heights, particularly with the feminist movement. It was a time that broke down barriers and paved the way for women to boldly express themselves and live outside what society had wanted them to be.
I wanted to PLAY and evolve new techniques inspired by the 70s free-spirited living, starting with that original hippy vibe,
creating a mass movement of the hair complimenting the texture and colours used in each creation.
Soft golden hues featured heavily with a touch of native American influence to evoke a sense of power and progression,
seen strongly with the braiding, twisting and use of light fabrics with clashing colours.
I kept the cuts playful, the texture shaggy and more natural whilst shining lots of personality through my colour work.
My time spent with Angelo Seminara helped me experiment with pushing the concept of hair pom-poms. I embraced the challenge that came with creating Miniature pieces of Art, as they were an integral piece in pushing both my mental and physical comfort zones.
I also experimented with a knotted technique called ‘Lanyarding’ which was used in the army. I discovered the technique whilst camping and immediately knew this could be applied to hair to create statements within my looks. I used it through two of the images to adapt the way I can play with shape and direction.
I certainly allowed the creative visions and juices to flow with this one, to me this is a way of pushing women to use their hairstyles to tell their tales of triumphs.”
