Going with the flow
Shoes MARC JACOBS FROM RELLIK | Shorts JOYCE BAO | T-Shirt VINTAGE FROM JERKS STORE | Hat NATIONAL THEATRE COSTUME HIRE | Necklace VINTAGE FROM DRACULA & CO
Serena Motola is here, and she is staying put! Having a predilection for all things London and soon to be calling it home, if you don’t know Motola, any minute now, you will. Far from ordinary, Motola is that rare alluring empyrean being with an indefinable quality. The following is aN EDIT from Hardcopy VOl.1 wheRE Serena SAT down with Susan fang to talk hidden powers and being herself.
Photographer NICK THOMPSON
Styling PHOEBE LETTICE THOMPSON
Interview SUSAN FANG
Words ALEXANDRA OLEY
Hair DANIEL MARTIN USING EVO
Make up GRACE ELLINGTON AT SAINT LUKE USING THE ORDINARY
Mannicure HAYLEY EVANS-SMITH AT SAINT LUKE
Production ALEXANDRA THOMPSON
Fashion Assistant LEONIE DENNETT
Romper LAURA ANDRASCHKO COLLECTION ZERO | T- Shirt HYSTERIC GLAMOUR FROM JERKS STORE | Stockings STYLISTS OWN | Earrings DRACULA & CO
Jacket COMME DES GARCONS FROM THE ARC | Earrings VINTAGE BY DRACULA & CO
Susan Fang: Where are you in the world now? And what are you doing today?
Serena Motola: So, I’m in Tokyo, Japan, and I’m at my house. I had a shoot today. It was so hot, so sunny. And yeah, just finished and got back home. How about you, Susan?
SF: I’m also home now its noon time, almost 12. I had a collab interview and then also had another small meeting. But just starting the day. Let’s start with the first question. There’s always a sense of freedom and intuition in your work and also the appearance is all very natural. This spontaneity and natural sense of being and this very natural sense of beauty.
I think these are also characteristics that we share for my brand as well and then there’s a rhythm, to go with the flow feeling to leave a space of imagination. And I wanted to ask how do you think this has formed those traits of your personal energy and what do you think were the influence to make this mood of yours?
SM: First, I answer in Japanese… I was born this way.
SF: I think so. I think it’s very natural. Yeah, it’s very cool. I guess it’s just being true to yourself, maybe the sense of harmony that makes it feel so natural for people.
SM: Yeah, I always want to be myself and I don’t like to pretend to be somebody else. I just want to be myself and what I think, you know.
SF: I think that’s why it feels so cool and unique and also very natural, maybe a lot of fashion shoots, they have to imagine to be a certain character, but I think for ‘Serena’ it’s unique and a very comfortable feeling because she’s being herself. So maybe that’s like a very unique feeling of beauty.
Next question, it’s interesting that we both came from a multicultural background. It’s really cool that you have roots in Japan and American/Italian heritage.
I am Chinese, but I moved around from country into country since childhood. For me, there’s a lot of like cultural misunderstandings in my growing up experience, but it eventually led me to understand myself and a wider perspective of things.
I’m very curious how you grew up with this cultural complexity and how do you think it has influenced you in any way in your perspective of the world.
SM: Well, like my mom is Japanese and my father is an Italian American and since I was a baby, I was surrounded by those different cultures, and it was really natural that I see Japanese culture, American culture and other cultures even.
So, I naturally became to have the habit that I accepted all kinds of different cultures and different people, and it became so natural to me. So, I am also really interested in other culture and different people.
SF: That’s super, super cool. Do you think in a way maybe that is why, when you first modelled, do you think you were more open to not maybe act like certain other type of model, but you felt more open to be yourself?
Do you think that might be one of the reasons? Because you were also very open to different cultures since you were a child as you grew up. Or does that make you more comfortable to be yourself anyway? Because you weren’t restrained by one type of aesthetic or definition of beauty or fashion.
SM: Yeah, I think you’re right.
SF: Okay, just curious.
SM: Yeah, yeah.
SF: I think it’s very special, that models and actress are like that now.
Yeah, I always want to be myself and I don’t like to pretend to be somebody else. I just want to be myself and what I think, you know.
Shoes MARC JACOBS FROM RELLIK | Shorts JOYCE BAO | T-Shirt VINTAGE FROM JERKS STORE | Hat NATIONAL THEATRE COSTUME HIRE | Necklace VINTAGE FROM DRACULA & CO
SM: Like, when I was a little child, like under 10 years old, I had a lot of like complexities and people always saw me as a mixed person, like Japanese and American. So, I didn’t like that. But since my family always supported me and they said that it was ‘Serena’, so don’t worry. So, then I was able to feel more confident and that helped being myself when I do modelling and so on, so yeah that helped a lot for being a model.
SF: Oh, I think that’s so cool and beautiful. I think that’s why the first-time having dinner with Serena, I was surprised you said you don’t usually put on makeup. I was really surprised, I was like, oh, maybe most models and actresses, they want to create a new sense of self that they have this standard, but I thought it was so positive that you were so comfortable being yourself and then showing this very natural sense of beauty.
I was guessing maybe also because you had a lot of security and love when you were growing up. And I think that’s also a really positive message for a lot of girls. After I knew that, Serena, that you don’t put on so much makeup, I started to put on less makeup as well.
SM: Really? (Both laugh).
SF: I’m a bit more comfortable with myself and then that kind of gives you a bit more assurance.
SF: I think that’s a really cool message, about being comfortable with yourself for other maybe young girls who are looking at Serena, to feel, they can also be themselves and express it to show their beauty. So, I thought that’s really cool to know the reason behind it. Next question is you have described yourself in the past as being like a ‘wind’, I found this super interesting as since our debut collection ‘Air’ has always been a part of our theme and also nature is a very important foundation of our brand and I would love to hear more on this, why do you call yourself ‘wind’?
SM: I think someone said to me that you’re like, quick. Yeah, like my friends described me as wind and kind of like a cloud. And then I thought, hmm, yeah, that may be true. And I thought that would be perfect to describe myself. And I am always open and flexible. So that, that is like maybe a wind kind of spirit.
SF: That’s very beautiful. I think there’s also a Chinese wisdom word called follow nature, like go in the flow of nature. When you say that it kind of makes me think maybe the wind is like that… I think it’s quite cool how you’re following what life brings you to be open to that. Oh, curious, how old were you when your friend said that?
SM: When? I think two years ago or three years ago, maybe not too long ago.
SF: I think that’s really cool. I guess sometimes it’s hard for you to know exactly a descriptive word for yourself, but sometimes it’s other people who have that feeling and then describe it for us. Because I think for you maybe just being naturally true to yourself, feels very natural. But that’s really cool. Next question is, I also experienced this when you first wore our clothes.
I thought, it feels very powerful, not as in just meaning ‘power’ or ‘strong’, but it feels very special. And I remember my husband, when we saw the look book, he was like, ‘Oh , you just need twenty Serena’s to do the catwalk. Serena looks so strong in the collection.’ And then it’s really interesting to hear that you were also interested in fashion. I’m very curious, like what does fashion mean to you? And also why or what do you love most about fashion?
SM: Well, from being very little, I liked fashion, I realised that I loved it so much. Since I was a child, my mom was always dressing me in like very cute, cute, cute clothes. So, I think since when I was a child, I’ve just always loved fashion. The clothes give me power and a secure feeling, and they protect me.
SF: Oh, that’s really cool. Was there a certain style you liked originally? Or do you think you have many styles you liked later on?
SM: I like many styles. I am always changing. I am always changing.
SF: Oh, that’s really cool. Maybe similar to what you said earlier, you’re very open to different cultures. I think that’s really cool too.
Jacket YUHAN WANG | Earrings DRACULA & CO | Skirt COMME DES GARÇONS SPRING 2006 FROM RELLIK
Boots SIMONA LEVET FROM WOLF AND BADGER | Jeans JEAN PAUL GAULTIER | Top VAQUERA | Sash and Medallion NATIONAL THEATRE | Pearls DRACULA & CO
SM: I’m always influenced by new and different fashions and styles, and so I like to try different styles of fashion, and yeah, new fashion gives me influence and its art.
SF: That’s really cool. I think it also feels very positive from your answer. It’s more like bringing a new experience. Then looking more into the fashion, earlier this year you walked for and closed my show. Thank you so much! It was super exciting, and a dream come true for us.
SM: Thank you.
SF: I would love to hear how did you feel about the day, was there any fun memories or maybe in general how do you usually feel on a show day? Are you nervous or do you just feel very calm?
SM: Before the show, I already liked your fashion label and your clothes. Being in a fashion show is like playing a role in a live show and being a part of a big team. And so, it’s really exciting and it’s a powerful thing. The fact that I am even able to be part of the show is really exciting, it’s just a really a wonderful thing. And I enjoy it.
SF: Thank you so much. We wished the most that Serena could come to our show. I know we were super, super, super excited that it could happen in the end. And we’re super appreciative. And I was really surprised that the show day was very chaotic, but Serena was always very calm. And that gave us a lot of comfort as well, because I was very nervous. But Serena’s very calm and then confident so it was just very, very beautiful. The post, we saw the most was also Serena and because generally people just feel maybe the ‘wind’ feeling that Serena brings, is very, very beautiful.
SM: I’m always nervous,
SF: Oh really? (Laughs).
SM: I was so nervous. (Laughs).
SF: You held it well. I couldn’t tell you were nervous.
But thank you so much. It’s really interesting that besides modeling you also ventured into both acting and music in the past few years. I wonder how did that happen was that also very natural or were those things that you wanted to explore yourself, so you made it happen and do you think there’s any differences between these roles or do these roles connect with each other for you?
SM: I wanted to be an actress and at the same time I wanted to be a model so for me, there is not so much difference between being a model and being an actress because both are playing a role of somebody else, or some image that the designer envisions. I think there’s lots of similarities between those.
And of course, being an actress has a lot of elements as well as their story, and it’s a longer project. But basically, what I do is kind of similar, like playing a role of what the creator wants and the image they have in mind.
SF: How about the singing, the music part, was that also something that you were always interested in or that was also just something you wanted to try, or did it suddenly come to you as an opportunity?
SM: That was suddenly, one of my friends, he is an art director and he asked me ‘Do you want to sing’ and I was like I don’t have the confidence to sing in front of people. I want to sing just to myself.
So, I was like, ‘No, I don’t, I don’t have confidence. I don’t want to,’ but he said, ‘Your voice is beautiful, I love your voice’. Then he asked, ‘What’s your favourite song?’ He said, ‘You can choose a song.’ And I said, ‘I like Fishman’s song,’ [Ikareta Baby]. Then he said, ‘Okay, let’s make a record of that song.’ So, then it was much easier for me to do that because it was my most favourite song. And yeah, I didn’t have to prepare for it too much.
SF: That’s really cool. It also feels like, how it happened felt like the wind you want to go with the flow.
SM: (Laughs). You can go with the flow.
Read the full feature in HardCOPY Vol.1