Her Finalist Lotus Collection is Inspired by Solace and Hope
This March we focus on the incredible success that South Africans are having abroad on the international hair industry scene with an in-depth interview with Candice McKay of Wyatt Hairdressing and Barbering. She is thrilled to have had her collections be chosen as a Finalist for the International Hair Awards 2022 and Winner of the Best Commercial Collection at AIPP Presse Coiffure awards. The owner of Wyatt Hairdressing and Barbering in Johannesburg has been honoured by no less than two international awards bodies within the month of March 2022.
2022 Winner of the Best Commercial Collection at AIPP Presse Coiffure Awards
The AIPP assembles more than 40 magazines representing the best trade publications addressed to hairdressers throughout the world. Despite this year’s challenging circumstances, they had an extraordinary participation, having received 532 hairfashion collections from 32 countries from all around the world.
2022 Best International Women's Commercial Finalist International Hair Awards (IHA)
“International Hairdressing Awards has been created by a hairdresser for hairdressers, founded with the aim of giving hairdressing the prestige it deserves and showcasing the business in its rightful place, one where talent, art and creativity are recognised and valued.” - http://www.ihawards.com/
The International Hairdressing Awards has announced the 15 finalists of the 2022, with Candice’s stunningly impressive Lotus Collection achieving such a prestigious honour amongst them. Later in March, IHA will be featuring the World Tour and Winners Announcement and 16th May 2022, with the exciting presentation will be held at the 2022 Catwalk & Awards Ceremony in Madrid, Spain.
Candice spoke to us and let us in on her inspiration and depth of feeling expressed in her Lotus Collection and what it means to her.
How long have you been in the industry?
25 years
Where did you get your inspiration?
Inspiration is a constant journey. You need to take an active interest in the world and everything around you. You can’t just tap into your creativity when you need to be inspired. I follow world news, changes in culture and engage with everyone I meet.
I created the lotus during a period where I have never felt as vulnerable as I did then, in a time of uncertainty and when we were collectively experiencing so much loss. I took to the symbol of the lotus flower give me solace and hope.
The Inspiration of the Lotus – Solace and Hope
I realised that I was living in a world removed from nature and when you are disconnected from nature you tend to lose a sense of where your priorities should be. So often we end up living in limbo because we are thinking that our lives are going to change in the future. We end up wasting time because we aren’t actually engaging in the present.
When we experience hardships, it is so easy to become hardened and lose our connection with humanity and detach from our spiritual selves. I wanted to create a collection that instead of showing belligerence, but rather femininity, soft and delicate, the beauty in vulnerability.
Each of the looks represent the beauty of regeneration, the beauty and power of life. the joy of life, and whimsical nature. It’s a returning, a reawakening, a reconnecting.
The lotus flower has a life cycle unlike any other plant. Throughout the night it is hidden underwater, in complete darkness, with roots latched deep in the mud. When the sun rises, so too does the lotus, miraculously re-blooming, sparklingly clean. The lotus represents the act of rising above challenges and moving towards the light of wisdom.
This daily process of life, death and re-emergence symbolises regeneration and rebirth. It is a perfect analogy for the human condition. Even when it has its roots buried in the cold stagnant water, the lotus produces the most beautiful flower.
The flower represents our ability to come from a place of suffering into the light. Like the lotus rises through the water to the light, we too can rise up from difficulty and reconnect to the light that surrounds us. It is a symbol that shows that no matter where you start off in life or what you're currently going through, that you have the ability to rise above, overcome all negativity and find bliss as you emerge from your struggles.
When I created the lotus I had an extremely small budget, The team I worked with all took on the work as a love project, either donating their time or asking only for what covered their expenses. We all had come from a very artistically desolate time and were excited to have a creative outlet, especially with a concept that we all believed in. My lovely friend Klara designed the set, she foraged most of the flowers from the streets of Johannesburg that had been allowed to grow wild from the cracks in our paving as the streets had been neglected due to many lockdowns. The beauty that had grown through neglect was such an incredible symbol of how nature always overcomes adversity.
What was your favourite part about preparing for competition?
I don't prepare for the competition itself but create an annual collection that gets submitted into the competitions. The process is actually very taxing and incredibly stressful. Besides the creative process, you also have a huge amount of organisation to do. I only enjoy the work weeks after the collection is shot and I have time to reflect on the process.
How did you feel when you heard you had been chosen as a finalist for the IHA?
They have not yet announced the winner, I'm in the top 3, the winner will be announced on the 23rd March, Live on Instagram.
And now you’ve won the prestigious Best Commercial Collection at AIPP Presse Coiffure Awards!
Last week I won the AIPP award for best commercial collection. This was absolutely thrilling as I had been working toward that award for 8 years. I'm still in shock, I don't think it has quite sunk in yet.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or mention?
Photography - Justin Andrew Dingwall
Art Direction - Klara Van Wyngaarden
Make Up - Lyn Kennedy and Nicci Allen
Styling - Thomas van Dyk
Assistant - Simone Rossier
Casting - Boss Models
Thank you to Davines for always supporting me.
What is your advice to other hairstylists looking to succeed in competitions?
I have been entering competitions since I was an apprentice and I know there isn't a shortcut to winning. It's constant practice, assessment, and focus. When you compete, you don't compete against others, you need to focus on doing your personal best. If you are interested in learning the steps to becoming a competition master or preparing a collection, I suggest you enter the Davines Talent Greenhouse. It's a free mentorship program that I co-created that nurtures talent.
This is what it is about: https://respectyou.me/brands/davines-world-news/talent-green-house-programme-by-davines/
Here is how you can enter:
What is the most important thing you have learnt from your experience in the competition?
Collaboration! I have met so many incredible hairdressers when I'm teaching abroad and it's wonderful to ask for help and collaboration. Everyone I have approached for help has always been willing to give me their time and expertise. I have asked Sam Mcknight and Sally Brooks to help me choose images for the competition and have asked Richard Ashforth and Tom Connell to help me with improving my standard. Everyone was helpful and kind. Reach out to the hairdressers you respect for help.
What do you enjoy most about being in the Hairdressing industry?
I like how our industry is forever evolving, I find it stimulating and keeps me on my toes. I also like how unlike many other industries we work in a far freer and accepting environment. Our industry is very progressive and open, we work in environments that are more accepting of different cultures, sexual preference and fewer gender boundaries.
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