LOVE LETTERS
Taarika Orange
Can you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?
My name is Taarika! I’m a graphic design graduate who studied in Ōtautahi, and I’ve been back home in Tāmaki for the past year. I work at Rachel Mills on the weekends and spend the rest of my time on passion projects to build up my portfolio and collaborating with other creatives. This year’s been about finding my footing post-uni, and I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in a range of shoots and projects alongside some incredible Tāmaki based artists.
As an emerging creative, how are you finding being a freelancer?
I’m grateful to be in a place where I can explore different kinds of work and build relationships in the creative community here. It’s still early days but I’ve been enjoying using different skills like graphic design, videography, and post‑production, whilst also picking up new ones through the projects I’ve been working on. I’m growing in confidence and looking forward to taking on more work independently.
What’s something in your wardrobe that always makes you feel comfortable and confident?
I have a few favorite pieces.
I bought the best pair of reworked DC jeans off a girl at Central Flea @notlikeyou.studios, they’re my favourite pair of pants that have the besttt silhouette. An absolute go to.
Alongside that, my handbag collection is highly prized to me. I have a lot of vintage coach, some gucci, prada, diesel… I live to lowball on facebook marketplace and trademe lol. But honestly my favourite, most worn bag is this dark brown leather purse I got for 20 bucks in Christchurch’s Lyttleton Market.
And my accessories! My red Baobei heart necklace hasn’t come off my neck in like 2 years and my wrists are always jingle jangling with bangles. It’s funny, I would always be able to hear my Mum before I saw her, because of her bangles, and now I guess that’s me.
As someone with Central Sensitisation Syndrome what’s something you always have in your bag?
My lip combo, wired headphones and my water bottle!
In honesty, there isn’t really much I can do when I have a bad pain flare up apart from going back to the basics. I have my little rituals for when things are bad to help ground me, including listening to some music, sipping on my emotional support frank green water bottle and reapplying my lip liner tbh.
Do you have a go-to ritual or activity that helps you manage your chronic pain symptoms?
Snuggling up in bed with a heatpack….my els…. because there’s really not too much else I can do except rest and allow myself grace.
Juxtaposingly, on the other hand I will actually take myself to the gym. I find it peaceful and so relaxing for my mind. It takes me to a different place where there’s no thoughts or pain, just loud trap blasting in my headphones. I’ve found weirdly that working another part of my body helps take my mind off my stomach pain!
As a multitalented creative, where does your inspiration predominantly come from, and how do you stay inspired?
So much! Fashion is a big one for me, it’s always been the central focus of my design and creative works. In particular, fashion in print media is one of my biggest sources of inspiration. Growing up, I remember begging my mum to buy me magazines at the supermarket just so I could look at the fashion and beauty sections, so it’s a fondness that’s only gotten stronger over the years.
Alongside that, there are so many people that inspire me, Virgil is always gonna be an inspiration, the king of multidisciplinary craft who created something from nothing.
I want to also name drop my girl Anya, who is one of the kindest and most talented people I’ve met this year. She’s helped me find my own confidence, by stepping into a mentor position and just by watching her chase her dreams and absolutely crush it, keeps me inspired and motivated to stay on this path.
Where does your Els Heatpack live? OR What’s your go to ritual when using your Els Heatpack?
Honest answer is…she stays in my bed all snuggled up in my duvet until the end of the day when I’m back in bed. During my bad pain flare ups, she lives tied onto me… like omg driving around with my heatpack on is so underrated. But the rest of the time my Els heatpack, a cup of hot chocolate and Love Island with my best friend is my go to nighttime ritual.
Lastly, how can people connect with you and follow along with your work and journey?
taarikaorange.com or @taarikaorange on instagram!
I never make New Year’s resolutions, but this year I promised myself to start pushing my work out and to just share my creative projects on my socials. It’s been great to start pushing my work even if I get anxious or nervous about it, because it’s a huge part of who I am, so why not show it off!
