The band YONAKA played at Download Fest back in June spotted wearing our Poison Ivy capsule collection! Download Festival is the UK’s premier rock festival, every June. Not only are they the YONAKA wearing the Poison Ivy LULA LAORA collection, but they also visited our studio in London!

The event also saw Bullet For My Valentine, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Enter Shikari during the three-day camping festival. Download Festival usually operates for 100,000 rock listeners. In June 2021 Download was downsized to 10,000 guests. 

WHO IS THE BAND YONAKA?

YONAKA is a rock band that has been active since 2014. The group from Brighton includes Theresa Jarvis on vocals, George Edwards on guitar, Alex Crosby on bass and keyboard and Robert Mason on Drums. 

In May 2019 the band signed with Fueled By Ramen, an American label. This followed an exciting step in their music careers!

Following this, YONAKA released their debut album Don’t Wait ’Til Tomorrow in 2019 and reached 38 on the UK Albums Chart and 10th on the UK Vinyl Albums Chart. 

The group has gone on European tours with Bring Me the Horizon and Fever 333. In December 2019 Bring Me The Horizon released a new EP featuring YONAKA called ±ªþ³§. 

In July 2021 the band released a new album, Seize the Power. Yonaka commented, "It's been so long since we released new music and the time has finally come; this is a new chapter for us. We want you to get lost in a feeling of strength and empowerment when listening to this song”.

(https://www.nme.com/news/music/yonaka-announce-details-of-new-mixtape-seize-the-power-2973425) Theresa Jarvis says that Seize the Power is a collection of songs to empower you. “ We all possess the power within but through life, we are always put down by others, told to be quiet and not express ourselves; this makes us less confident and we lose ourselves.”

And here's a little fun fact, YONAKA is the cover star for The Rock List on Spotify UK! 

WHAT IS THE DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL?

The festival has been up and running since 2003 when they featured Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson, and Audioslave. They have also had AC/DC, KIZZ, My Chemical Romance, Def Leppard, Linking Park, Korn, Slipknot, The Hives, Machine Head and Metallica among many other prominent rock bands. 

It takes place on the grounds of Donington Park, associated with rock since the 1980s. In 2022 they’re hosting KIZZ, Iron Maiden, Bliffy Clyro, Korn, Daughtry, Megadeth, Steel Panther and the Darkness. 

HOW DID YONAKA GET TOGETHER?

All members had dabbled in music props to the union of YONAKA. The lead singer Theresa says “When we sat down to write, it felt special. I never had that before”. They started writing dark songs, still figuring each other out. 

YONAKA became the band we all adore today whilst supporting bands like Bring Me the Horizon and Fever 333, "I felt so much strength and knew exactly how we wanted to touch people. It just clicked. Watching those brands every night, forced us to up our game as performers. You feel so inspired by it because they give everything" Theresa says about their union. 

THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE SELF-CONFIDENCE THROUGH MUSIC 

Seize the Power was self-produced in the band home studio in Brighton. Even musicians had to get a little DIY during the pandemic! Have your bangs grown back yet? What colour is your hair right now? 

One of the band’s values lies in embracing self-confidence. We couldn’t agree more, which is why we love to see YONAKA wearing the Poison Ivy LULA LAORA collection. The purpose of our clothing is to encourage people to embrace their individuality. 

HOW DOES THE SINGER THERESA WANT HER FANS TO FEEL?

“I want them to feel empowered. I want them to feel like they can kick the door down and go get what they want.” 

YONAKA WEARING THE POISON IVY LULA LAORA COLLECTION

The Poison Ivy collection made from recycled material is part of our UPCYCLED collection to promote slow fashion. 

The green neon and black items are inspired by the film Batman & Robin (1997) clothing made from mesh and denim. No, not by George Clooney’s take on Batman - although he would look 100% in a mesh jumpsuit. The designer was drawn towards Uma Thurman’s character Poison Ivy. 

Much like us, she's passionate about the environment, poisoning people upon the touch of a deadly. Kiss, using her pheromones to make men fall for her. Thurman loved the femme fatale characterisation of Dr Pamela Isley or Poison Ivy, and we do too. The mesh of the collection is durable and stretchy. Although it might look delicate and fragile, it’s a very durable fabric. 

HOW TO WEAR A MESH JUMPSUIT 

You can wear it as a statement piece on its own with a floor-length coat. Opt for a heavier wool coat in the winter, and a lighter trench in the warmer months of the year. Wear it with a pair of slingback heels - or opt for a grungier look with Doc Marten boots like Theresa. This is why we love YONAKA wearing the Poison Ivy LULA LAORA collection - we get some inspiration on how to wear the pieces. 

If you’d like to wear the mesh jumpsuit more conservatively, you can wear it under a pair of black jeans. Opt for the legless bodysuit version - unless you tend to run cold. Within the collection, you can also pair it with a recycled bag with ruffles called the Poison Ivy Bag. 

If you haven't checked out YONAKA yet, listen to them HERE! And if you're interested in our Poison Ivy collection THIS LINK is your BFF.