Shu Uemura Announce 2017 ‘Gallery of Style’ Winner
On Sunday the 25th of June 2017 in a warehouse space in Melbourne’s North; hair creatives, salon owners and leading industry professionals came together to celebrate the winner announcement of the 2017 Shu Uemura Art of Hair Gallery of Style national competition; that winner was Lauren Branciamore from The Society salon in Sydney, NSW.
The Shu Uemura Art of Hair Gallery of Style is an international professional hair styling competition which celebrates the remarkable craftsmanship and creativity of the hairstylist. With 5 finalists up for the chance to take home the national title; Lauren Branciamore’s (The Society Salon, NSW) hair look, titled ‘The Sound and the Silence won the National Award, drawing inspiration from the competition 2017 theme TOKYORAMA. Lauren’s win will also see her nominated as the Australian representative in the international Gallery of Style competition.
Lauren Branciamore expressed her excitement after winning the award; “This is so completely unexpected and I’m really, really overwhelmed. I’d just like to say thank you to Shu Uemura Art of Hair for this amazing opportunity. I’m so happy to have won this and even being a finalists and travelling to Tokyo has just been the most incredible experience. What he future holds with Shu Uemura Art of Hair is an amazing and exciting thought. A big thank you to everyone, including the other finalists who I have completely fallen in love with and can’t wait to share many more moments with.”
Embracing the competition’s TOKYORAMA theme, Lauren explains the details behind her winning hair art; “Tokyo is a city of juxtaposing textures, from the softness of the Cherry Blossom and the detail of Buddhist temples to the sleek, shiny lines of the iconic modern architecture. I was really inspired by these textures and Tokyo’s contrasts between the old and the new. The curved formation in the hair, references the traditional rooftops of the ancient temples, while the abundance of soft texture was inspired by the Cherry Blossom. I used high shine and clean lines through the top which are inspired by the modern architecture. The detailed top knot is an ode to old Tokyo and traditions and craft in which it purveys”.
The Shu Uemura Art of Hair Gallery of Style competition provides a platform for Australia hairstylists of all experience levels to push their artistic limits and create their own work of art. This year, over 60 hair stylists entered the competition, with 5 finalists nominated based on their ability to convey the TOKYORAMA theme through hair styling and showcasing a strong artistic and technical aesthetic.
General Manager of Shu Uemura Art of Hair Australia, Sandra Kelly, shares her excitement for Lauren Branciamore’s win. “Lauren’s winning look is incredibly hypnotic. It’s technically brilliant and complex but also so considered. It really does bring the Tokyorama theme to life through its contrasting textures, hair design and detail. Lauren’s look, as well as each of the finalists looks are a great example of what the Shu Uemura Art of Hair brand is all about. It’s showcasing the hair stylist as theartist; drawing on inspiration from the cities architecture and the contrast between old and new. They’ve let their creative minds run wild and supported one another along the journey. Each producing they’re own work of art. This night isn’t just about celebrating our winner, but admiring the skills of our entire community and creating a platform to see where their artistry takes them.”
With over 120 hair professionals and industry tastemakers in attendance, the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Gallery of Style National finals party was held at Two Ton Max in North Melbourne. The scene was set with textured backdrops, an art installation of floating origami cranes, hot pink neon lights and a gallery showcasing the 5 hair looks from the Gallery of Style finalists, suspended from the warehouse roof. On arrival, guests choose from a selection of premium Japanese whiskeys while also being treated to the delicious Japanese inspired canapes such as well-known Melbourne chef Dave Stewart from Ascot Food Store. Between sets by local DJ Jay Ramon, guests checked in at the interactive Shu Uemura Art of Hair photo mirror the affirmation wall where they could open individual envelopes containing positive and quirky hair related quotes. The Gallery of Style National Finals Party is the brand’s largest social event of the year, attracting guests from Shu Uemura Art of Hair consultant salons from across Australia.
Finalists: Bridget Gay, Chumba Concept Salon, VIC Danny Puopolo, Rakis on Collins, VIC, Ellie Martins, Wildlife Hair & Beauty, NSW Adam McIntosh, Oscar Oscar Pacific Fair, QLD