It was less than twelve months ago that I revealed leading designer Jayson Brunson was fighting cancer.
So just a few days before his fashion week show at RAFW, which happens on Sydney, Wednesday night, I spoke exclusively to him about his biggest challenge yet - his second battle with cancer.
I've conducted the exlusive interview for GRAZIA magazine, which is out in the stands today. Here's a taste of what you'll read.
The mood is upbeat and buzzy in Jayson Brunsdon’s Sydney studio as a gaggle of models wriggle into pieces from his new collection and the finishing touches are put to his fashion week show.
The designer is clearly enjoying being in the thick of it, bouncing around with a huge smile on his face and a head covered by one of what, he says, are a cupboard full of different-coloured Kangol caps.
But he is not wearing the hat to make a fashion statement.
He’s got it on to mask the effects of a recent gruelling 3 month bout of chemotherapy after doctors found that earlier treatment for the testicular cancer he was diagnosed with last June had failed to eradicate the disease.
COPING WITH CHEMO:
Until now, Jayson and his partner Aaron Elias, have only told their closest friends and family about the discovery and the news that he would need chemo.
But they have decided to reveal the news to me ahead of fashion week and the inevitable gossip about his health.
He was attending his usual round of monthly, post-operative check-ups in January when his doctor said he would need a round of chemotherapy, starting immediately.
As Jayson pragmatically puts it: “My doctors had found some cells they didn’t like and they wanted to get rid of them.”
He laughs as he recalls that his first question was: “Will I be finished treatment by fashion week?”
But the humour masks what has been the designer’s biggest health challenge yet.
He says: “I can tell you, chemo is everything people tell you it is like.
“It is absolutely draining and just horrible.
“You have to be as positive as you can about it too as so much about cancer is in your head, so I had to block any negativity out of my life. I am still learning to be positive about it.’’
THE FUTURE:
So what does the future hold? “I am now totally in remission after the chemo, so it’s really about me going every six months and checking that all is fine,” he says.
“But it certainly changes your attitude towards things and makes you re-evaluate things in your life.
“If anything, I am not to work as hard, that is for sure!
He credits his family and especially Aaron (who is also managing director of his fashion house) with helping him through the treatment – the couple have just celebrated ten years together.
HIS NEW COLLECTION:
Nevertheless, work has remained central to his life and the roller coaster of the last year has even inspired his new spring/summer collection, named Dorothy after his fashion-savvy and much-adored mum.
“From being sick last year and having my family and friends around me so much I started to think about the classic Australian woman,’’ he tells me.
“I wanted colour around me and didn’t want anything dark or tortured, as my year had been tortured enough.
“I took inspiration from my mum and was thinking about all of those simple shapes of clothes she wore to smart bbq’s and poolside parties.
“So there are lots of shirt-dresses and silk shantungs in easy skirts and shorts. And some simply elegant and beautiful long gowns in champagne silks.“I’ve also learned not to get so obsessed about what everyone else is doing. I do what I love and love what I do and that’s making women look beautiful.”
Jayson is also showcasing his new jewellery range at fashion week.
“There is something a little bit kitsch and a bit Australian about it all,” he says.
“It’s like you’ve gone to the Barrier Reef and bought some coral earrings and a necklace and bought them back as souvenirs.
“But they are darn nice souvenirs, I might add.”
Check out Grazia for more of the interview . . .
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