Designer PROFILE: Jasmine of Raven + Rose

We recently (virtually) sat down with the very talented designer Jasmine; of Raven + Rose lingerie to chat about the move from Hong Kong to Australia, her family, her brand philosophies and what we can expect to see in the near future for RAVEN + ROSE.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

Jasmine: I drink way too much black coffee, sometimes the same goes for champagne and use the excess energy to independently manage my Intimates brand RAVEN + ROSE. I have a visual aesthetic that revolves around the ownership of one’s own sexuality and present that to the world in the form of a cheeky Instagram page and lingerie. I’m also potty training my son, I run on a daily basis and am a patron to all things black.

My name is Jasmine Smith, I’m New Zealand born and currently Australian based with a 14-year stint in Asia just behind me. I’m the Muma to the wildflower of a daughter Isabella Zia (5) and red car obsessed son, Ashton Phoenix (3).

We have stocked Raven + Rose for a few years now - Can you give us a little insight into the brand and your brand philosophy?

RAVEN + ROSE was established to promote female sexuality, without having to resort to push up bras or padding. I don’t believe in re-shaping the female form into something that fits the mainstream mould of what it means to be sexy. Instead with my designs, I recognise that there are those that flirt on the outskirts of what is stereotypical, and it is these women that my lingerie caters for.

Jasmine shared with us a beautiful series of imagery captured of her family through isolation.

You have recently relocated to Australia - Why did you choose to leave Hong Kong and what was this process like to do so?

14 years in the fast paced and luxe life of Hong Kong eventually misaligned itself with the deeper need of connecting to a country and community, living within familiar traditions and cultural experiences and enjoying the smaller joys of simplified life. Moving was a necessity and so my husband and I settled on the idea of Sydney, which is where he is originally from.

The surprisingly complicated and lengthy process of moving our little family of four was quite a process. One that both unfortunately and fortunately happened to fall during the notorious Hong Kong Protests and at the beginning of the Corona Virus. These events made logistics crippling but simultaneously the timing was perfect in terms of setting up back home - exactly where one wants to be during a global crisis.

With all of the change in the world right now and two little kiddies to care for what are you doing to keep yourself and your family inspired?

We flex and flow between having structure in our day to establish some sense of normality and allowing for creativity which breathes a nice amount of fun into our lives. Lockdown means that I often find myself sitting in a parked car with the kids as they pretend to drive to Thailand. The children ‘order’ their lunch from the ‘Muma-Cafe’ (which often has a set menu) and then we all pretend to be strangers and socialise at the dinner table, telling stories via our alter-ego form.

We all crave social interactions and travel, so we play these out via make believe games. As childish as this all may seem it does give me great insight into the kids psyche and how they are emotionally coping with the lockdown.

Has there been a silver lining for you of this reset period?

There has been a stream of silver linings, we managed to make it over the border from New South Wales to Queensland (and to our beach house) right before the Australian boarders shut. Swapping the city hustle for a more placid beach lifestyle during lockdown. We have no nighttime social events, which means every morning starts at 5.30am with a beach run as the sun rises. I’m getting a taste for what it is to be a stay-at-home-Mum and how to live a capsule sartorial life out of a carry-on suitcase.

To be honest however, it is not all home-cooked dinners and day-drinking, there are many moments the reality of the situation weighs heavy. Life still remains a balancing act where I have to consciously choose to acknowledge the positive side.

What is next for the Raven + Rose brand? What can we expect to see in the coming months?

RAVEN + ROSE will be establishing itself in the Australian Fashion scene once isolation is over. I’m looking forward to connecting with the Aussie creatives, innovators, and thought-leadership drivers. Australia is new territory for both myself and the brand and I am looking forward to presenting RAVEN + ROSE, both in its ethos and its apparel form, to Australia and seeing their response.

All this alongside pushing the new jewellery line (soft bondage inspired silver and gold-plated minimalist jewellery) as well as dropping some slick new PVC pieces.

Any hot tips on how to make yourself feel amazing whilst at home?

Get dressed, wash your hair, put make-up on. The basics are often overlooked in times like this. Once you’ve done this; experiment with your boudoir wardrobe. DIY a silk scarf turban, drape that silk dressing gown you never found the time to wear over your shoulders and pair it with some slinky stockings and pasties, throw on some heels if the mood suits. Take the time to experiment with an ‘at home’ look that is luxe and well put together (because Babes, the reality is that right now we have nothing but time up our sleeves).

Treat yourself - explore our selection of curated RAVEN + ROSE Lingerie here.