INDUSTRY NEWS in the local fashion industry and happening around town in October 2014 featuring Karen Walker Eyewear, STORM, Mi Piaci, Postie, Holly Howe, Mindfood Style, DHL Scholarship, Kathryn Wilson, MAC, and The Commons.
KAREN WALKER EYEWEAR
Intro image: Anny Ma and I in confetti.
KAREN WALKER EYEWEAR celebrated 10 years with a luxe party with Lexus at Sapphire Room upstairs in Ponsonby Central on Friday 10th October. It was really interactive: there were two photo areas for guests. First we had photos in a confetti explosion in front of a wall of gold helium balloons (which we all got to take home) wearing the new golden commemorative frames – one pair for each year of the brand. Secondly we had photos at a replica of the 2006 launch ‘Dictator’ photoshoot campaign, complete with microphones with Karen Walker and LEXUS on them. We didn’t take any eyewear home but Karen Walker joked about how at the 2006 launch event at NZ Fashion Week – which I was at and remember well – six pairs DID get stolen by guests “so we have extra security on tonight!” laughed Karen. “I wanted to put the fun into luxury” she explained in her speech to the packed room, before cutting some incredible cakes by The Caker, Jordan Rondel.
Here are my photos from the Karen Walker Eyewear ‘Ten Years of Making Faces’ event.
Below: Designer Karen Walker (left) and I in the confetti glitter bomb.
The Dictator podium of mics. Photo Sam Lee.
Below: Before and after confetti.
After the speeches, there was a gorgeous but very quick runway show of models with streamers flowing from their shoulders, in the 10 year KARENWALKER CELEBRATION sunglasses. Photo below of models from my Instagram.
PERRIAM
Central Otago fashion designer Christina Perriam launched her luxurious merino fashion label, PERRIAM, at her family’s iconic high-country property, Bendigo Station – which was also the home of Shrek the Sheep – with a SS14/15 catwalk show for 250 invited guests, VIPs and national media.
Former CEO of Telecom, member of 2006 Forbes list of the World’s 50 Most Powerful Women and My Food Bag co-founder Theresa Gattung officially launched the new label and spoke about being a woman in business and the importance of branding.
Theresa says: “The only thing that matters today is authenticity. Truths ring true. That Christina was brought up here, that she loves Bendigo Station and the land, that she’s proud of her heritage – all of that comes through in the brand. Her brand is the real story of her life.
“PERRIAM is about slow fashion, not fast fashion, but it is fashion-forward.” says Christina, pictured below with Theresa Gattung.
THE COMMONS COLLECTIVE
Breast Cancer Cure put on a fantastic catwalk show on Wednesday, October 15th at The Commons retail development at 21 Hurstmere Road in Takapuna. L’Oréal Professionnel invited us along to the second ever annual catwalk event which celebrates fashion while raising money for the Breast Cancer Cure cause. Petra Bagust MCd the evening with a runway show of local and international brands including Storm, Lululemon, Celine Rita, The Co-Op, COOP by Trelise Cooper, and Federation. Words and photos by Stacey Gillies www.fashionfairground.co.nz
STORM BOUTIQUE PONSONBY
Storm opened in the flash new retail area on the corner of Mackelvie and Ponsonby Roads, moving across and up the road from their previous store. Owner Deborah Caldwell told me how they retained their signature Storm latticework interior wall trellises and used cabinets from Belgium and vintage sewing machine legs for the display tables in the beautiful interior fit-out. The fixtures are all moveable – making them actually ‘unfixtures’ – giving more flexibility to the layout for merchandising. The summer collection is all instore and selling fast as they only do a certain number of each print – the animal faces this season are gorgeous- and then move onto the next print so too many aren’t around. There’s lots of strong kelly green, a vibrant coral orange, and petrol blue, as well as neutrals, black, and of course, stripes for summer. The brand always strikes a great fit between casual and smart without-being-too-dressy that its clientele love it for.
MI PIACI PONSONBY
Speaking of this Mackelvie retail area, I was back again today for the opening of Mi Piaci’s Ponsonby store. it was exciting- they had a queue of customers out the door and down the road at opening time for the first 50 customers received $100 vouchers and the next received $50 vouchers, and the tills were ringing hot. I went in mid-morning and it had quietened down somewhat and I was able to view the gorgeous new summer range, and try on my favourite styles. I decided upon this nude snakeprint and metallic detailing sandal.
M·A·C PONSONBY
My THIRD and final piece of Ponsonby action is very exciting: M·A·C is opening this Thursday at Lot 3, 130 Ponsonby Road. This will be the cosmetic brand’s eleventh store in New Zealand and will no doubt fast become a fave destination for locals getting their makeup fix at the new store. M·A·C has partnered with Rowena Roberts, Red Honey Cosmetics Ltd (retail partner for M·A·C PRO Britomart, M·A·C St Lukes and M·A·C Botany stores) for Ponsonby. “We are thrilled to be taking M·A·C to Ponsonby Road – it’s exciting to be in the company of an incredible line up of both New Zealand and international designers and provide a location for local M·A·C addicts to keep up to date on makeup trend, tips & tricks with our M·A·C Artists,” says M·A·C Brand General Manager, Tanya Jackson.
HOLLY HOWE COLLECTIONS
Local jeweller Holly Simpson-Howe is going from strength-to-strength and has just been invited to show her work for her brand, HOLLY HOWE COLLECTIONS, in New York. Holly will be showing at DRAFTspace gallery’s showcase entitled ‘DELICIOUS OBJECTS’, running from November 13 – 16th at The Highline Loft, 508 W 26th Street 5G, New York, with free public admission. “The show unveils an array of jewellery and evening clutches in a culinary themed art installation exhibit. Featuring over twenty designers of distinct visions from the United States, Argentina, Austria, Cyprus, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Portugal, South Korea and the United Kingdom, the event serves up a feast of daring objets d’art from emerging talents.”
Below: Holly Simpson-Howe
5 Days of Colour Challenge
In other highlights… I did the Postie 5 days of colour challenge. You basically had to wear no black for the five days and any customers wearing all colour instore, got 20% discount, which is a novel idea. You’d think I am inseparable from my black, but it actually went pretty well. I’m wearing orange top by Postie, pants by Cybele, necklace Karen Walker, shoes Mi Piaci, hat Boohoo. Photo by my 5yo daughter.
DHL Fashion Scholarship
Dan Gosling of Stolen Girlfriends Club was the inaugural winner of the DHL Express fashion scholarship and this year, Dan is the designer judge. Now in in the scholarship’s seventh year, he joins a stellar line-up of former judges including Liz Findlay, Kate Sylvester, Margi Robertson and Trelise Cooper. Entries are now open for designers to apply for the award. More info at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DHLScholarshipNZ, Twitter @DHLScholarship, Instagram dhlscholarshipnz and on their website www.dhlfashionscholarship.co.nz
Below: 2013 winners, Commoners. Photo Megan Robinson.
Below: 2013 DHL finalist, BLAK. Photo Megan Robinson.
MINDFOOD STYLE
The fabulous lifestyle mag MINDFOOD, owned by Editor-in-Chief Michael McHugh, is extending its foray into fashion with the upcoming launch of MINDFOOD STYLE on newsstands on 20th October. This is especially great as they have Carolyn Enting at MINDFOOD who for years was the fashion journalist at Dominion Post newspaper in Wellington as well as an accomplished photographer, and knows NZ fashion better than anyone so this will be a knowledgeable and interesting read. It will publish print copies twice a year and have its own website under Mindfood.com’s existing site as well as social media platforms. The first issue has NZ actress Rose McIvor looking a-ma-zing on the cover wearing Zambesi.
KATHRYN WILSON NEWMARKET
Footwear designer Kathryn Wilson and team are celebrating the opening of their latest beautiful, new Kathryn Wilson boutique and the arrival of high-summer styles in fresh new colours at the opening of their Newmarket store at 2-8 Osborne Street on Wednesday the 22nd of October. Visit her website at www.kathrynwilson.com
Megan Robinson
18th October 2014
Leave a Reply