Jenny Kee and her famous Australiana Patterns

What is the most awesome way to celebrate Christmas in July? Spend it with the internationally acclaimed fashion designer, style icon and artist, the one and only Jenny Kee.

Recently, Jenny Kee opens up to JET about her drive and passion in working on Australiana patterned knitwears, as well as her expectation to the young Australian designers. Ms Kee is an Australian prominent designer who was influential in introducing the Australiana pattern to the international community. The name Australiana indicates the unique pattern which is inspired or based by Australian nature, flora and fauna.

Ms Kee’s name rose to fame when she opened her exclusive boutique in Sydney’s Victorian-era Strand Arcade in the 1970s, aptly titled Flamingo Park. Her shop was not only the it shop for Sydneysiders but also the hub for international celebrities.

Karl Lagerfeld was so besotted with Jenny Kee’s design of opal patterns that he included her patterns in his first collection for Chanel’s Ready to Wear in 1983. This opal pattern, along with her other notable pattern, has become Ms Kee’s signature patterns over the decades. Some of these patterns are still crafted by Ms Kee in the forms of pure silk scarves.

The most sold out fashion items from her shop was her sweaters. As Jenny puts it herself, “My sweaters were made for a few weeks and sold for five minutes like a hot cake!”. Her sweaters were extremely popular because from the very beginning of her creation, Ms Kee believes in developing patterns which are icons of Australian nature, among others the Waratah flower which she acknowledged as her totem, the Sydney opera house, the Kookaburra, Kangaroo and Koala which she nicknamed Triple K “Kooka Kanga Koala”.

In 1981, the daughter of NSW Premier gave a wedding present to Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The gift was a pair of Koala and Kangaroo patterned jumpers which was designed by Jenny Kee. The Blinky Koala jumper, as it is famously called, appeared in headline when Diana, Princess of Wales, wore it in 1982. Since then, the Blinky Koala jumper as well as other creations by Jenny Kee became sought after collectibles by Australian and international fashion lovers.

Last Autumn, Jenny Kee released a new collection of knitwear (http://www.jennykee.com/#knits) which she called “Koompartoo” (an Aboriginal word which means “A New Beginning”). This super exclusive collection is knitted from the world’s lightest-yet-warmest wool namely Zegna Baruffa. The collection comprises of the Blinky Koala –my favourite-, Jenny Kee jacket –my Mom’s favourite-, Peace, OZ Signature, etc.

When asked what made her designs so special and still a sought after fashion item after several decades, she simply replied “Oh darling, I design from the heart and I follow no trends. I was born in this amazing country that has a very long history of nature, plants and animals. Each corner of Australia inspires me. I really love this country. So, in a way, all my designs reflect the beauty of Australia, its people and its nature”.

Lately, Jenny Kee is immortalized when Carla Fletcher painted her. Fletcher’s painting of Kee became one of nominees of Archibald Prize which is the most prestigious art prize in Australia. The visitors of NSW Art Gallery in Sydney have been experiencing star struck with this enigmatic work of art which reflect Jenny’s great personality.

Aside from that, Jenny Kee also serves as one of the Advanced Style models to OPSM, Australia’s much loved optic store. Over the years, Kee’s colorful glasses have also evolved becoming an integral part of the icon herself.

Thank you, Jenny Kee, for allocating time to meet me, but most of all to your truthful words and kind encouragement. Stay inspiring dear Jenny.

If the French will forever be endowed with Coco Chanel, then Australians should be proud to be always associated with Jenny Kee!

Take a look at the magical world of Jenny by following her in instagram (@jennykeeoz). Jenny Kee’s amazing knitwears and silk scarves are sold both online (http://www.jennykee.com) and offline (Pretty Dog in Newtown, and Haus in Leura).

Stay tuned to my fab one-on-one encounters with the world’s most famous fashion people by following my account in instagram (@JETJAKARTA) and Facebook page (JET’s Fashion Diplomacy).

Ps. A little note to my fellow Indonesian designers and fashionistas, if you wish to establish yourself as a designer whose timeless creations are still sought after for decades, as the talented Jenny Kee has proven, you better follow her golden rule. Follow from the heart and stick to no trend! In the near future, I hope more Indonesian designers will be creating special and permanent collection underlining the beauty of Indonesia, its nature, people, flora and fauna. Jenny Kee’s Koala jumper is the most famous sweater as it was worn by Princess Diana. Louis Vuitton, under the artistic guidance of Kim Jones, has released its men’s collection for Spring/Summer 2016 which presents selection of exotic birds including the Bird of Paradise, known as Burung Cenderawasih, a native bird in the Province of Papua in Indonesia. Now, Indonesians, start creating your unique and special designs!

#jetfashiondiplomacy,#indonesianfashiondiplomacy,#jennykee,#australianprominentdesigner,#australianfashionicon,

Interviewing the Australian fashion icon and prominent designer, Jenny Kee. Location: Hotel Hydro Majestic, Medlow Bath.

Celebrating Christmas in July with Jenny Kee. Love seeing my monochrome Jenny Kee’s peace wool scarf perfectly matches the handsome Batik shirt created by Batik Dudung (Dudung Ali Syahbana) and crafted by Novita Villanueva for Envy Batik (Facebook account: Novita Villanueva, instagram: @envybatik). Location: Hotel Hydro Majestic, Medlow Bath.

Mrs Henny Tandjung aka my Mom, Jenny Kee and JET at the launching of Jenny Kee’s knitwear in Parlour X last Autumn. Mom wore Jenny Kee’s signature hot pink jacket and I wore the Blinky jumper with a Batik bag by Novita Yunus for Batik Chic. Instagram (@parlourx)

The Australiana patterns on Jenny Kee’s Uni Oz jumper from the famous Koala and Kangaroo on the front and a cheeky Kookaburra on the sleeve.

Iconic Australiana patterns on Jenny Kee’s Oz Collage jumper. From Sydney Opera House to boomerang.

JET with a billboard showing Carla Fletcher’s painting of Jenny Kee, now shown in NSW Art Gallery in Sydney.

Jenny Kee watches a painting of her by Carla Fletcher, now being shown as a nominee of Archibald Art Prize in NSW Gallery (http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2015/29631/). Source: Jenny Kee’s instagram (@jennykeeoz).

Jenny Kee and her Waratah silk scarf (http://www.jennykee.com/#product-19). Source: Centurion Magazine.

Her Royal Highness Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing the Blinky jumper by Jenny Kee in 1982. Next to her is His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales.

Jenny Kee on a recent interview in The Morning Show at Channel Seven explained about the magical Jenny Kee hot pink jacket which saved her daughter’s life during the 1977 Granville train crash.