Pussy Power – A Celebration Of Strong Women – Read Our Series Of Interviews
Join us as we celebrate strong women as part of our Pussy Power campaign.
Here we speak to Jade Berry, a Photographer with a fresh style who’s responsible for our Pussy Power and Africa collection imagery.
What gets you out of bed in the morning (and we don’t just mean coffee! Haha! )
The feeling of discovering something. A burning desire for the uncertainty. What outfit you are gonna put together for the day.
Love this quote (it sums up this question) from Diana Vreeland:
“You gotta have style. It helps you get up in the morning. It’s a way of life. Without it you’re nobody. And I’m not talking about a lot of clothes.” (I’m talking about a lot of clothes, you can never have enough ha)
Where does your strength and sense of purpose come from? e.g., were you brought up by strong family members/ do you have a strong group of friends. What are your goals/ do you strive to do each day when you get up in the morning.
I’m full of fire, it definitely comes from my mum, she’s a very strong character. “If you want something doing, you don’t need a man, do it yourself, go out and get it”
Got a very tight group of best friends, who are all doing their own things. We all have our own style and love fashion; when we are all together the force is strong, we feel invincible. (We obviously aren’t, it’s just a girl thing)
My sense of purpose is to create or try exciting new things, not just within my work, I love coming up with new recipes (yep, I love food), discovering new and old music I have never heard before, exploring streets of quirky European cities (my new favourite thing), getting lost, tasting new flavours, working and supporting independents and making stories whether they are fictional or not.
Who have been your inspirations throughout your life, and in what way?
WOW, this is a really big question. I have so many influencers that inspire me within my photography. But throughout my life I will have to go back to my mum, no question.
Without telling you my life story, (it’s very long haha) my parents split when I was 10 years old, so we all stayed with mum, no matter what she put on a brave face, through struggle she was still strong, made the most out of what we had. Being the oldest of 3 at the time I had to step up and help mum out, that’s why I am naturally very bossy and know what I want.
Bowie, always. Never afraid to be who he wanted to be. People thought he was other-worldly, his vision and creations. Knowing what he wanted and striving to make it. Someone who pushed gender boundaries and stereotypes, not just within his music but the way he dressed or his alter ego. A lot my androgynous influence stems from Bowie, and or course his attitude, suits pussy power to a tee.
Iris – What a legend. She is something else, true to herself. Real. I love her. She taught me all about colour!
Stevie Nicks – WOW. Saw her last year at Hyde Park, one of my style icons, but again her honesty within her music, sensational. Stevie is the lead singer in Fleetwood mac (if you didn’t know) She was, well still is a strong female lead in a large male dominated rock music world. Her individuality can be seen and heard so quickly. She was trying to push feminism in the 70s and still is now.
Last but not least…. BLONDIE. Saw her live last year to at the Eden Project. She was 72! Absolute show stopper, she wore this black cape that had sequin writing saying “STOP FUCKING THE PLANET”. When she started rapping ‘Rapture’ it blew my mind, at 72! What’s so great about Debbie is when this song was released she was the first white female to do a rap on MTV, which at the time was seen as very out there and “cool”.
What achievements are you most proud of and why?
I don’t think I have anything I’m most proud of. With creativity I think you have a lot of self-doubt, but it’s unbelievable when you have self-reflection and look back on everything you have done. I did it for 2017, can not believe the new relationships and clients I have worked with, Uzma Bozai being one of them. I will say working with you on your Africa Collection for Harvey Nichols was incredible. I am very excited to be supporting and working with you on your Pussy Power campaign as it’s something I feel very strongly about.
What does the concept of Pussy Power mean to you?
Being a proud female. Girl Power. Body empowerment. Being true to yourself. Inner strength. Stand Together. Girls support girls.
Do you feel that it’s important to support international woman’s day, and if not/yes what are your reasons?
Of course I do. I think some of this feminist movement has got a little bit out of control and lacks understanding. This day isn’t about being better than men, it’s about working together as a race. This is about equality. Being proud, strong but sill humble. A day that represents the future.
