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Marc Moore, one of three friends, with backgrounds in surfing and no formal design training, who founded boutique brand Stolen Girlfriends Club in 2005.

Marc will be speaking at Semi-Permanent design conference, Auckland, May 18-19.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?

Marc Moore, one of three friends, with backgrounds in surfing and no formal design training, who founded boutique brand Stolen Girlfriends Club in 2005.

Marc will be speaking at Semi-Permanent design conference, Auckland, May 18-19.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?

Around 9am when I’ve had my first 2 Allpress coffee’s, and also around midnight when I’ve had my first 6 pack of Steinlager Pure.

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?

Fruity pants is what they call me.  I’m a little messed up with my personal style.  One day I think I’m the marlboro man so dress a little country, and the next day I think I’m tyler the creator so I get all fashion jock. – let’s just say my aesthetic is constantly evolving.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

Seeing ideas come to life.  That’s prob a little cheesy and I guess everyone says that but isn’t that why we all do it?? Thoughts become things!  I like it.

How does your environment affect your work?
Immensely.  You are what surrounds you.  Luckily I have great staff, amazing friends and nice ‘new york’ style bricks that seem to project creativity.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?

Sometimes the details make up the big picture for us.  We’re like magpies, we hunt out all the things we are currently digging on.  Might be a bunch of details / features, then we tie them all together with one constant thread – this is the big picture.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

Never stop dreaming.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?

I still really love our ‘no safety helmut’ exhibition. We got a bunch of photographers from NZ & Australia to re-enact famous Helmut Newton images in their own styles.  We exhibited the images here and in Australia, and auctioned them all off for the NZ Aids Foundation.  We even got the blessings of June Newton.

Who or what has inspired you recently?

The desert – Joshua Tree National Park in California.  So amazing!  I’m currently getting a huge image made to display in our office.

Tell us a bit about your background.

Came from competitive surfing, got old (too old for competitive surfing) so started working for one of my sponsors on the marketing side.  Also started helping out on the design side.  Got over my job so moved to another company that was more creative.  Started painting (canvasses etc).  Had an art show called Stolen Girlfriends Club.  The show was a success and everyone loved the name.  Started thinking about making our own tee-shirts – ones we couldn’t find in the market so started a small line of tee’s, jeans and jewellery.  Called it Stolen Girlfriends Club because everyone loved the art show title.  And then boom, here I am 7 years later (still making tee-shirts).

Tell us a bit about your upcoming projects.

We have NZ Fashion Week coming up which is always fun and a great opp to show everyone what you’ve been doing.  We also have a whole bunch of jewellery pieces to launch which is exciting.  A great collaboration with an artist from la too – watch this space?

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?

Hmmmm, advertising.  The creative side.  I love a good ad.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?

Raglan.  It’s where I grew up and will always be attached to it.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?

Super loud in the car.  I always find the music sounds better in the car (by yourself).

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?

Is this that analogy that people talk about with ‘getting old’ ??  You tie a piece of string to a stick and wind it round and round, this is likened to ageing, the years go by faster and faster as you get older (just like the string getting shorter as you wind it round the stick).  Hmmm interesting / scary.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

What’s great about Semi-P?

It’s inspiring of course!!

What’s your big idea for 2012?

3d fashion eyewear (because the cinema ones are laaaaame).

Further information:

The rules of Stolen Girlfriends Club: a youthful rebellious spirit, a healthy sense of humour, and the ability to entertain and empower.

The boutique brand was founded in 2005 by three friends Dan Gosling, Luke Harwood and Marc Moore. A New Zealand based trio with backgrounds in surfing and no formal design training, who set out to design the clothes they couldn’t find in the market.

Stolen Girlfriends Club garments are represented with sex appeal, confidence and courage. Whether inspired by punk romanticism, party crashers, or post-apocalyptic surfers, each collection has an underlying feeling of rock’n’roll delinquency.

Stolen Girlfriends Club is now stocked in over 13 countries around the world, positioned in mid-high end boutiques. Its presence is ever expanding among the world’s most fashion forward bloggers, celebrities, musicians and innovators.