CHAINMAIL, 2018 - 2022

Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3, 2022, Guildford secret location, Image Credit - Katy Cao

Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3, Who Are You Wearing Exhibition, Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, 2022, collection release, photographyic series, video documentation and collection installation.

CHAINMAIL is a Western Sydney clothing label founded by creative directors Natalie Ang and Gillian Kayrooz. The label launched and made a name for itself in 2018 at an underground one night event in Sydney supported by emerging western sydney musicians Clarissa Mei, Temgazi and DJ Astro and Esky. The first release featured a limited capsule collection that aimed to create comfortable, quality, affordable and minimalist streetwear made by and for Western Sydney. Since then, CHAINMAIL has stuck to it’s a non-conformist approach and minimalist run of garments with each collection - selling out within hours of every release. CHAINMAIL was created in response to what the creators saw as a lack of engagement with the Western Sydney creative sphere and has since built an unconventional community with one-off events and nostalgic photography. At its core the brand promotes collaboration with other emerging creatives from the area that together showcases a unique local perspective.

CHAINMAIL: Capsule 3

In its 5th year anniversary, CHAINMAIL returns with CHAINMAIL: Capsule 3. This collection documents their third capsule release and most unique event to date. A body of work that documents CHAINMAIL’s grassroots-inspired business model, influenced by the creators personal experience of car boot exchanges with friends and regular visits to local car parks as a social hangout space. The body of work exhibited at Fairfield City Museum and Gallery not only features rare items from the third collection, but a series of photographic prints along with a lo-fi video documenting the creation and process in the lead up to the release night. This series see’s CHAINMAIL return to a core founding vision - to create events hosted in Western Sydney for Western Sydney communities.

Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3 - Who Are You Wearing Exhibition, Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, 2022.
Image Credit - Gillian Kayrooz.

The documented footage from CHAINMAIL: Capsule 3 features a range of local perspectives from locals in the carpark, along with those attending the event to purchase the limited run of new releases that features artwork from Western Sydney artist SAARA138. Promoted through social media and word of mouth alone, the event speaks to the power of community at a time where interaction and intimacy have been limited. The body of work as a whole will capture the genuine passion CHAINMAIL has for creating accessible fashion and pioneering local streetwear culture that features unique, sustainable, quality items at an accessible price point.

Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3, Who Are You Wearing Exhibition, Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, 2022, collection release, photographyic series, video documentation and collection installation.
Image credit - Liza Moscatelli.