AGWA’s collaboration with alternative fashion hero Kiel Rogers
Kiel Rogers never dreamed of being a fashion success story. A surfer who loved hanging out in Trigg, he was into skating, graffiti and music which, together, likely contributed to him getting kicked out of high school.
“I was pushing against the mould. I never liked following trends,” said Kiel.
His passion for the avant-garde and love of the visual arts eventually led him to a degree in Fine Arts at Curtin University and onto fashion at the WA School of Art and Design.
Kiel’s talent won him internships with Karen Walker, Comme des Garcons, with Moschino Director Jeremy Scott, and Walter Van Beirendonck.
“Fashion was never my dream, but I loved art. It just happened to have flowed into fashion,” he said.
Kiel Rogers has created a worldwide cult following around his label, GARBAGEtv. Born from the punk DIY scene which seamlessly blends music with art and fashion, GARBAGEtv is well-known for its avant-garde and DIY aesthetic, favoured by artists, skateboarders, musicians and the fashion crowd alike.
Singer Billie Eilish has modelled his GARBAGEtv label in Vogue. Kiel has exhibited more than 10 times at Paris Fashion Week and he has dressed Lady Gaga and Beyonce.
The Australian designer has now joined a growing list of collaborators to work with The Art Gallery of Western Australia.
His unique fashion interpretations of AGWA’s I have not loved (enough or worked) exhibition feature t-shirts, bean bags and fist cushions. The AGWA x GARBAGEtv collaboration was inspired by the works of Chinese photographer and writer, Lin Zhipeng (aka No.223) who features in the exhibition.
“223’s photographs were beautiful and soft. But I wanted to play with the idea that nothing is literal,” said Kiel.
“Nothing is at it seems. Especially in 2022, we are all living in a weird space.
“So having a fist cushion in the collection was a perfect contrast for me to show that even if it appears hard like a punch, it maybe visually tough, but it is soft,” said Kiel.
AGWA x GARBAGEtv is part of AGWA Design Store’s ongoing commitment to working with artists and designers to create unique collections, both locally and internationally.
Leith Groves, retail consultant and buyer for the AGWA Design Store, said “It is very exciting for Perth to have this exclusive, limited-edition collaboration with 223 and GARBAGEtv.
“GARBAGEtv has an underground cult following that will not only appreciate but absolutely love this collection.”
Supported by the Simon Lee Foundation Institute of Contemporary Asian Arts.
The exhibition runs until April 2023.