John Velvet,Hair Visionary
Erupting from a vision of creativity, sex and glamour, rawness, art, excellence, freedom, colour and the creative dark depths of artistic director, creator, evil genius, and hair sculptor John Velvet…. Furr is born.
1995…. Middle of a decade where fashion had turned to minimalism, apathy and conservatism, and hairdressers and fashionistas were literally creaming themselves with frothy excitement over “the Jennifer” and Meg Ryan’s layered hairdos.
Meanwhile John Velvet was subverting the trend for conservatism and giving expression to the creative desires of Sydney’s Underground Glamourazi. Punks, Goths, Misfits, Artists, Musicians, VibeTribers, Doofers, Performers, Circus Acts, Distortionists, Mistresses, Slaves, Piercers, DJs and Tattooists all found their way to John’s creative studio, Furr.
This was John’s third salon, after exploring the worlds of fashion and movies through editorial and freelance work, and having closed his incredibly successful salons The Velvet Underground, located in Newtown and Paddington a few years earlier. Throughout his career John Velvet has maintained his creative integrity – only doing work that he finds inspiring and remaining true to his artistic vision of a world more visually interesting.
2002…. A new beginning. John’s partner in crime Kylie (aka Ms Kitten) gave her stifling career in engineering the Bird and crossed the universe to be absorbed into the eclectic creativity of Furr. Discovering a love for everything hair and makeup, Kylie quickly trained to join John on the floor and began servicing her own band of vagabonds.
2006…. Was the year of launching Manic Panic! It was a big year where Furr celebrated 11 years of alternative goodness by holding a huge event at Goldmans, Newtown showcasing local fashion design labels such as the Wild One, Reactor, Gallery Serpentine, and Psydeways and musical talent such as DJ NeoTokyo, and amazing underground bands such as Bad Art, Dead Inside the Chrysallis and ToyDeath. Furr put on a hair show unlike any other that left the crowd begging for more.
2010…. New Salon New Chapter! Furr relocated to the heart of King Street, Newtown, a move designed to strike back and subvert the homogenization and gentrification of Sydney’s alternative culture. Furr Mk II opened its doors with a full consort of the cream of alternative clothing from Australia and around the world.
2012…. With an ever growing and ever evolving approach to hair, fashion and our fierce clientele, Furr continues to perform outside the norms of society, keeping true to our vision of a world more visually interesting. ♥
View our galleries here:
Our Winter (non- daylight saving period) opening hours are:
Tuesday………. 11am – 7pm
Wednesday……….11am – 7pm
Thursday………. 11am – 9pm
Friday………. 11am – 7pm
Saturday………. 10am - 6pm
Sunday………. Closed
Monday………. Closed
Our SUMMER (daylight saving period) opening hours are:
Tuesday………. 11am – 8pm
Wednesday……….11am – 9pm
Thursday………. 11am – 9pm
Friday………. 11am – 8pm
Saturday………. 10am - 6pm
Sunday………. Closed
Monday………. Closed
