Anna started out with a degree in fashion design at Leeds and worked for various brands in the UK before coming on board at Canterbury of NZ…
Canterbury of New Zealand is such an iconic local brand. In this Designer Profile, Thread spoke to Anna Solomon, designer of Canterbury of New Zealand’s Women’s and Kids ranges, to meet one of the faces behind the sportswear label.
Anna started out with a degree in fashion design at Leeds University in England, and worked for various brands in the UK before coming on board at Canterbury’s New Zealand office. Recently she’s taken on the women’s sports and lifestyle ranges, which include the Silver Ferns designs.
Tell me about the design process when creating Canterbury garments?
The initial direction comes from the sales team in terms of what has been popular in previous seasons. They give us a matrix which tells us how many styles they want, number of tops, number of bottoms and then it’s up to us to put the range together. We travel overseas on retail trips to see what’s happening in other markets, mainly visiting Europe and the States where we look for new ideas, concepts and at what’s selling. We’re also always on the lookout for new global trends that will fit with the Canterbury customer.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on Spring/Summer 14 which has nine ranges within women’s and kids. At the moment all of our designing is complete so we’re working to develop samples with our factory. There are lots of things to juggle with this, like getting the fabrics and colouring just right.
Is there anything new we can expect for the next season?
The biggest change we’re bringing through is the new women’s Active Living range, a hybrid between lifestyle and training. In terms of women’s fashion it has become a real global trend for sportswear to be suitable as both gym wear and weekend wear, with a contemporary feel to it.
Below: Pro Attack Panel Bra Top and Chillax Three Quarter Pant.
How have the training designs changed? And what direction would you like them to go in to?
By adding our Active Living range, it has formed a bridge between training and lifestyle by bringing fashion and style into sports inspired pieces. We’re also continuing to grow our women’s pro training performance gear.
What’s the inspiration for this year’s training gear?
We want to create a chic and feminine range that’s user friendly for real women. It’s about creating a balance between something that’s nice to wear and flattering but also functions well. Canterbury is also known for its use of colour so I keep energising colours in mind when designing.
What’s your favourite women’s training piece from the current range and why?
I love the Speedy Gonzales print, which comes in the Airborne Singlet and Action Capri. Both pieces are great, the print is fun and combines the trend for animal print with movement without being too scary. It’s a key print that brings the colours of the range together and I’m sure Canterbury’s Kiwi women will love it.
Nadia Damstra, 28 November 2013
This post was sponsored by Canterbury of NZ
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