Girls and Boys is the personal project of art director and photographer Edward Quarmby and stylist Claudia Sinclair. Between them they commission a photographer and styling team to create a narrative of images, which becomes an entire issue of posters. Brett Lloyd shot the first and for the second, Tom Ordoyno collaborates with Ellie Grace Cumming and Gary Gill. Shot in Nottingham, it’s a sort of diary of time passing, focusing on the development of a new community called Lime Tree Gardens as it’s transformed from dirt floor to freshly laid carpet. i-D caught up with them to discuss the inspiration behind the issue ahead of their launch at Bookmarc in London this evening.
When did you start this issue of Girls and Boys?
We approached Tom Ordoyno over a year ago about shooting an issue and the ideas developed in to this exciting project.
Is this issue entirely one shoot, like the first?
Like the first, it’s one team creating the content over a few months in a series of shoots and edits. It was a long and hard editing process because there was so much great material. Between the team we boiled it all down to its purest form.
Would you describe it as fashion or portraiture or neither?
Girls and Boys is a platform for the contributors to explore their ideas however they see fit. This issue has everything: portraiture, interiors, landscapes and great fashion from Ellie Grace Cumming.
Why did you decide to work with Tom and Ellie?
We’d worked with Tom before and knew he could bring a sensitive viewpoint to the poster format.
How long does it take to put together an issue?
It’s rare to give the freedom to photographers and stylists to say go away and spend time on a project; we want to promote that to get well thought out and considered editorial. We give all collaborators the time they need to make it happen, which is why we have a few projects running at the same time.
How do you pick the models?
For this issue it was about imagining characters growing in this new community. It started with Anna Donne, with her alluring beauty. She’s like a friend’s older sister that never really know. The others came in to complete the picture.
What are some other magazines and photographers you find inspirational?
We feel we’re working in a very exciting, transitional time in fashion imagery and publishing – just looking at the new resort campaigns you can see the tides turning and a new generation on the horizon. That’s inspiring itself.
Will you ever put it online?
Girls and Boys is very much a print publication, unfolding as posters. Online wouldn’t always do it justice but we’re open to all mediums as an independent magazine. Really it’s however our collaborators feel best to express themselves.
Who would your ideal Girl or Boy be for the next issue?
Tallulah Haddon.
Credits
Text Bertie Brandes
Photography Tom Ordoyno
Styling Ellie Grace Cumming
Styling Assistance Peghah Maleknejad
Grooming Gary Gill for Wella Professionals using Care & Style and MAC Pro
Grooming Assistance Tom Wright and Josh Goldsworthy
Model Anna Donne