From documentaries to short narratives, all types of films premiered over the weekend at the Napa Valley Film Festival. However, none were quite as sensational as local fashion designer Jake Wall’s sexy new music video. Jake specializes in clothing (for both men and women) that is classic and modern, but with a defiant twist. “The clothing we do at Jake is meant to be both an experience as well as an outfit,” Wall told Haute Living at Raymond Vineyards’s bocce ball court on Friday afternoon. “We design for the clients, for the lifestyle, and for the opportunity that they see each and everyday when they get up, they get dressed, and they encounter the world.” Wall makes both ready-to-wear and customized creations and is interested in getting to know his clients. “We’re fortunate enough to have both a custom division and a wear now division,” he explains. “The two work hand in hand, so you have something that is immediate gratification when you just need something new in your life to inspire you. We also have the amazing pieces that are designed exclusively for you that take a little bit longer, but are made with the same amount of love and respect.”
Wall finds the spirit of collaboration—wether it be with a socialite looking for a dress to wear to a party or a club, like Tout Suite, hosting a lounge at a festival—incredibly important. “What do we see as being the most important thing in the word right now? We see collaboration as being the most important thing. An experience like the Napa Valley Film Festival—it is one that is about collaboration and about creativity,” he says. “We thought this needs to be an experience that brings together fashion, film, arts, music. If you were to roll the clocks back and look at that great bacchanal experience of the Greeks when they brought all of that creativity together, that’s what we tried to do.” The resulting film is a music video that Wall made with his cofounder Nathan Johnson, director Kyle Chesser of HandsOn Studio, and Signy, a Texas-based musical artist. “The music video showcases the brands that are in the lounge, supporting the arts and culture that are here in Napa Valley and in San Francisco,” Johnson says.
Signy has an album coming out next year, and the Jake team got an advance copy of a song called “Water.” The video stars Mellissa Gray, Yulia Reira, Giana Ciapponi, and Robert Mull. Original artwork by Penelope Moore is featured in the film and was on display at the lounge. The video is inspired by the current Jake collection, of the same name, Night Circus. “The ‘Water’ fashion film is one that we call a visit to the Night Circus and it is an experience of all the pleasures that happen with that moment,” Wall says. “It’s that moment in the Night Circus. It comes without warning and it is there, and it happens, and then it is not. It’s an exact moment in time and we look forward to sharing that moment in time with everyone at the premiere of the music video.” The film debuted at the festival gala on Saturday night to rave reviews—but you can watch the exclusive collaboration between Jake, Signy, Chesser, and Moore now, below.
Haute Time
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