Tuesday, July 12, 2011

weebits

www.weebits.co.nz
facebook.com/weebits
Physical Location:  Lower Hutt
Operating Since:  2008


Debbie Green
What are you all about?
Our clothing is personally knitted in 8 ply merino wool, as well as a small range of 2 and 4 ply vests, socks and beanies.  I think of our clothing as simple but stylish.  The garments compliment each other to create a gorgeous ensemble for any little person.


What kind of clothes do you make?
We use the best merino sourced from high country farms in the South Island and then entirely processed at a local wool factory, Woolyarns.  All weebits garments are dyed using eco-friendly low-impact fibre-reactive dyes.  Unlike conventional dyes, these contain no heavy metals or other known toxic substances.  Our natural-colour wool is eco-merino which has no scouring or bleaching in the process.


Who makes your clothes?
We have a great team of knitters from the South Island in Geraldine. They have been knitting for us since 2008.  Once we expanded into the UK, the Netherlands, South Africa and Australia, I advertised from some local knitters & now have a great team close by as well, which works well for those urgent one-off things that sometimes we need today.  Most of my knitters knit every day as there is always a winter somewhere in the world.  They really enjoy it and weebits has become a large part of their lives.


Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
weebits is sold online through our website as well as top-end stores around the world.  Where we have control, the stores and their locations are carefully selected so that they have some exclusivity in their area.


What price range are your clothes in?
The price of the weebits range is $20 - $150, from our merino knitted socks to knitted basket-weave blanket.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
I think manufacturing overseas obviously has a price factor but also has become very easy for a lot of businesses & there are a lot more options than here in New Zealand.  It's a big shame but, in the end, I think customers still appreciate a well-made NZ product & we don't intend moving from that.


What would the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
It would be great to see the Government help with some funding for new NZ businesses.  The "Buy New Zealand Made" campaign has been a good thing & hopefully made people more aware of the benefits to buying NZ-made.


Anything to add?
All in all, I love my job and am kept very busy.  I talk about "us" and "our" rather than "me" because I feel my husband has been great influence on my business; pushing me along to succeed & developing a great website, database and finding stores around the world.
I am happy to have so many fabulous knitters in New Zealand kept busy doing something they love.  I appreciate and know them all personally & often spend time chatting and having coffee with them, which I think is a very important part of the business.
Happy knitters make great garments!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

NYNE

www.nyne.co.nz
facebook.com/thewhiteroom
Physical Address:  135 Ward Street, Hamilton
Operating Since:  2004


Jacob & Miranda Scott-Simmonds
Tina Patrick (centre)
What are you all about?
What kind of clothes do you make?
We design and manufacture 'high street designer wear'.  It is easily understood, simplistic and effortless yet still contemporary and on trend.
We appeal to a broad age range, manufacture all of our collections in New Zealand, and work hard to keep our prices accessible.




Who makes your clothes?
Everything is NZ-made, including our knitwear and accessories.


Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
We wholesale to various boutiques all around the country (from Kerikeri to Invercargill) as well as around 30 boutiques throughout Australia.  We do not stock to any 'online stores' as such... we do receive online enquiries through our store, The White Room by which people can purchase items through... but yes, online sales is certainly something we are considering.


What price range are your clothes in?
NZ$90 - $550


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?  Cost - always and only.


What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
I don't think it should be up to the Government to make concessions for one sector of the economy.  Designers at the end of the day have the choice & conscious decision to go NZ-made or not.
  
However, a couple of things the Government could do is:
- push/advertise/encourage the average Kiwi to become aware of/ask/check labels on clothing and to buy NZ-made
- an online national register stating what labels manufacture in New Zealand & how much of their collections are manufactured in NZ.  Updated seasonally
- a national and international campaign showcasing those labels & advertising that register
- bring back the "Buy NZ Made" campaign & tailor that to specific industries.


Anything to add?
We are certainly pro NZ-made.  Sure, our circumstances may change in the future but, for now, it makes sense; not only in a patriotic sense but logistically, cost & time wise.  I think a lot of New Zealanders would be surprised at the number of high fashion, big brand NZ designers who manufacture part, or all, of their collections off-shore and still charge NZ-made prices.  You also then get the opposite - local boutiques making everything in-house or locally & nobody even knows...
Due to the move off-shore, the trade in New Zealand has downsized dramatically.  If it continues this way, possibly in the future we won't have a choice.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Flaxen

www.flaxen.co.nz
facebook.com/flaxen
Physical Address:  4 Wallis Street, Raglan, Waikato
Operating Since:  2004


Mistral Wray
What are you all about?
I direct and design the label Flaxen.  We reference New Zealand's unusual perspective, our music, our beautiful resourceful people & the flora and fauna grown on the West Coast of the North Island.  Our design walks the line between our rural lives and our city lives.
We are patriotic in a good way.


What kind of clothes do you make?
Our designs are generally simple, uncluttered with an eye to silhouettes and texture.  We use 100% cottons, merinos, silk and I really love viscose that is made from wood pulp.  I also love a good retro print in vibrant colours although they're hard to find.  Our detailing is pretty selective.  I love vintage buttons and lace trims.
We also make our own jewellery range that works beautifully with the clean lines of the garments so the overall look is offbeat, sexy and stylish & most importantly, easy to wear.  We are also in the process of a collaboration with a NZ artist for a range of T-shirts for children and adults.


Who makes your clothes?
I source the most beautiful fabric I can, then design and cut the garments by hand.  I have found some lovely women to sew, who have their own home workshops.  We have a really personal way of working, usually involving a discussion of what we're doing & our best approach to new designs.  I value their input and feel lucky to have a great team to work with.


Who sells your clothes?
We sell exclusively from our shop/workshop in Raglan.  We enjoy the shopping experience with our customers.  We are able to help people find the right things for them & love the feedback as to what people are looking for.  We are now ready to supply a select number of retailers;  slow and steady has been our approach.


Can we buy them online?
Our website is being built at present but we are on Facebook so we can have dialogue with our customers.  And by the end of the year, our site will be up and running.


What price range are your clothes in?
Our garments start at $69, ranging in price mostly dictated by cost of fabric.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
I think cost has been the bottom line & competing with cheap mass production makes it look attractive.  It's also pretty difficult to find skilled sewers in NZ and have that consistent quality.  I feel we have been steered into being consumers more than is good for us.  I believe there is a generation coming through now who see that being a contributor, rather than just a consumer, is healthier and more satisfying for our well-being and our world.  So I'm hoping to be able to employ some younger tradespeople as time goes on.


What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
Expanding on a Buy NZ Made campaign with a Make NZ Buy NZ campaign.  Encouraging people to learn these skills again would be great & has the ability to provide people with a viable living that can work around their family, etc.


Anything to add?
I guess, at the end of the day, we just need to believe in what we do - carry on making beautiful things and setting a good example.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Tamaasa

tamaasa.com
facebook.com/tamaasa
twitter.com/tamaasaclothing
Physical location:  134 Piha Road, Piha, Waitakere City
(This is not a retail shop so please phone first.)
Operating Since:  2009 


Tabitha Maxwell

What are you all about?
What kind of clothes do you make?
Tamaasa is a collaborative label (formerly known as Earthage) founded in 2009 by myself and my business partner & fellow designer, James Bristow.  Since then Tamaasa has become an infusion of both our backgrounds in music and fine arts placed alongside our personal ethics; which look at breaking the boundaries of sustainable clothing & creating an avenue for people that like to question how their clothes are made - where and what environmental impact they have created in production.

James Bristow
It is important that, as designers, we constantly question what impact we are creating on, not only the earth, but also our own health & the health of others by trying to avoid anything made with harsh pesticides, chemicals, dyes and unfair trade practices.  Our clothing ranges have developed up until now to feature large chunky knitted scarves, skeanies, gloves, organic cotton basics, merino knitted capes and winter luxury items; with winter 2012 being developed now with lots of exciting new trends.

Who makes your clothes?
At present, we manufacture all of our own clothing in NZ, by hand knitters and organic cotton knit manufacturers here in Auckland.  I design and create all of our patterns & sample everything which is generally then outsourced to be made by small manufacturing businesses in New Zealand; and occasionally we have one-off items made here at Piha, or finished by myself or James.

Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
We currently stock at TAll in Tairua & have an online shop.  As this is our first full year in production, we have been approached by many new stockists in the past six months & look forward to being stocked around Auckland and NZ next season.

What price range are your clothes in?
As we are an eco company & all of our fabrics are sourced ethically and from NZ, as a rule, we tend to use very high-end fine fabrics and fibres such as 100% Alpaca fibre which can be very expensive to source.  These luxury fabrics place our label in the high end of clothing labels, with our clothing pricing from anywhere between $45 and $400.

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
As a designer that is passionate about not only looking at fair trade but also environmental issues, I have to say that it is almost impossible to develop everything here in NZ, with the technology we have available.  In the 80s, a lot of our manufacturing was sent overseas when labour was found to be cheaper in places such as China & only now is it slowly building up here in New Zealand again; so the costs to produce a garment here is extremely high, even when you consider charges for freight etc from overseas.  NZ also doesn't have the technology to apply to so many different manufacturing processes that designers use everyday.

Fortunately though, times seem to be changing & people are more interested in paying a little bit extra for something that is very well made here on our shores.  One thing I can say for NZ manufacturers is that they tend to have fantastic standards of production, with the quality of garment being superior to overseas manufacturers.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
Stop signing all of these trading agreements with overseas parties & start looking at developing our manufacturing sectors here in NZ.  It is a sad reality that New Zealand is one of the most expensive places to live, partly due to the fact that we export most of our goods & I believe NZers have such a great ability to create and work hard that we need to start introducing technology for digital printing here, large scale knitting facilities & developing green sustainable fabrics.  The eco trends of overseas designers is a huge sector that hasn't even been touched on in New Zealand & developing eco fabrics here would be a nice advancement from the Government, I feel.

Anything to add?
As consumers, try to always look at how your garments are made & where they are made.  It is so easy to turn a blind eye to the harsh reality of how your clothing is made.  For example, children in overseas countries are in some cases exposed to extremely toxic chemicals, all for the sake of a knit tee that you may pay $5 for.  An item may be cheaper to buy, but in the process, you are very possibly contributing to unsafe farming practices, unfair trading, and chemicals that eventually may affect your own health as well.  At least, by keeping our clothing manufactured here in New Zealand, you can be aware of how it is made.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Kōkō

www.koko-nzconceptstore.com
facebook.com/kōkō
twitter.com/_K_O_K_O
Physical Address:  75 rue Charlot, 75003 Paris, France
Operating Since:  17 September 2010


Catherine McMahon (left)
and Diane Pernet 
What are you all about?
Showcasing NZ fashion in Europe.
I only stock New Zealand labels.
Currently about 80% of the stock is made in NZ.  I am working towards having all the stock made in NZ, and hope to do so by the next season here.


What NZ-made labels do you sell?
World, Zambesi, Karen Walker, Trelise Cooper and Kate Sylvester
- though they don't all make everything in NZ.


Can we buy them online?  Not through me currently but I am looking at an option for this, as I now have some customers who are not Paris-based.


What price range are your clothes in?
From 100 to 600 euros.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?  Cost, I think, is the main reason.


Anything to add?
The French generally love New Zealanders & I have found that they will pay a little more for a garment that is made in NZ; particularly if there are only a few of each piece.  On this basis, I have no more than five of any piece in the shop.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Buttonlove

www.buttonlovekids.com
facebook.com/buttonlove
twitter.com/buttonlove
Physical Address:  Mt Albert, Auckland
Operating Since:  2008

Cat's daughter Charlie
in a Buttonlove dress
What are you all about?
Buttonlove is a New Zealand made baby label.

What kind of clothes do you make?
High quality clothing for babies and toddlers. Buttonlove garments are fashion forward as well as functional.  I like to use natural fibres such as cotton and merino fabrics.

Who makes your clothes?
I use Bobby-Lee Wadsworth to make up my samples then I spread out the production between her and my manufacturer Stitch Perfect.  It is very important to have people you can relate to, as well as delivering the high standard that Buttonlove is known for.

Who sells your clothes?
I have stockists all over New Zealand from little boutiques to the bigger department stores.

Can we buy them online?
Yes, on my website as well as some of my stockists' websites.

What price range are your clothes in?
$30 to $85; it depends on the season as well because merino is more expensive than cotton.

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
The cost is so much cheaper than producing the same garments here in New Zealand.  Saying that, the product is never as good & you can't oversee the process and quality control.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
They need to help new businesses that are trying to get off the ground, especially those that create jobs here in NZ. We need to keep manufacturing in this country and create work for the many talented people we have here.  I think the Government could bring in some kind of tax break for staying NZ-made.

Anything to add?
Buttonlove is proud and committed to stay a New Zealand made label.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Organic Baby

www.organicbaby.co.nz
facebook.com/organicbaby
Physical Address:  127 Jackson Street, Petone, Wellington
Operating Since:  2008


Lianne Earles
What are you all about?
Our focus is on natural fibres, predominantly organic cotton and merino.  Our preference is to stock NZ-made over imported labels where possible.  We also stock preloved clothing in keeping with our whole eco-friendly philosophy.


What NZ-made labels do you sell?
APT Creationz, Buttonlove, Bev Lees, Nettle & Wolf, Strawberry Jam and locally-made knitwear.  Our organic cotton label, Pureborn Organic is NZ-designed but, for practical reasons, grown and manufactured in India.
We also stock NZ-made accessories - beanies, bibs, baby wipes, shoes, nappy bags, wooden teethers and toys, etc.


Can we buy them online?
Yes, you can buy them online!


Do you have your own label?  Who makes your clothes?
We don't manufacture any of our own clothing but we do have a very sweet "kiwi" bodysuit in organic cotton which is screenprinted locally using water-based inks.


What price range are your clothes in?
From $15 for an organic cotton beanie to $79 for knitwear.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
It is cost and price driven.  Many clothing labels manufacture overseas to simply keep their prices at a level customers are prepared to pay.  We have stocked beautiful NZ-made ranges which just haven't sold until end-of-season clearance.  It's sad.


What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
It's a difficult situation.  If the economy was in better shape and wages were higher, more people could afford to choose NZ-made over shopping at the chain stores where everything is made in China.  
I think more support should be given to small businesses and there should be financial incentives to stay NZ-made.  Introducing higher tariffs and duties on imported goods would slow the flood of imported goods.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

SABATINI

Physical Address:  180-182 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland
Operating Since:  1958 (Operating as Sonny Elegant Knitwear)
SABATINI was started in 1991 under our parent company, Sonny Elegant Knitwear.

Margi and Tony Milich
Creative & Managing Director
What are you all about?
What kind of clothes do you make?
The SABATINI feeling is for a sexy naturalness and designed for women who want easy-care knit dressing.  Distinctive colour palettes and intricate fabric design content are an integral part of each collection.  Many of the yarns used are combined for originality & are sustainable eco-friendly derivatives.  With this foundation, our company has evolved into a highly successful international fashion label; exporting directional and creative designer knit fashion all over the world.
SABATINI's reputation centres around a Made in New Zealand philosophy with each garment hand cut, hand linked & hand finished for quality in leading edge knit design.

Who makes your clothes?
We have our own on-site Knitwear Factory where both the fabric and garments are designed and manufactured right from raw materials.

Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
We sell to various boutiques, currently focusing on the NZ and Australian markets, as well as having our own E-boutique.

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
3 years or so, it became quite popular for brands to outsource manufacturing because of the benefits of good quality at low prices.  As well as this, there has been a gradual loss of the older, skilled workforce in New Zealand; which forces brands to source better quality elsewhere.  I think this is what initially sent a lot of manufacturers overseas.  In the last year, however, this has changed; there have been a lot of price increases overseas, lessening the benefits.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
When the Government introduced the free trade agreement with China, it seems they have essentially given up trying to keep manufacturing in New Zealand.  With this policy in place, it is very hard to compete with locally made goods, which is a shame.

Friday, May 27, 2011

emma

www.emmacollections.com
facebook.com/emma
Physical Address:  476 Adelaide Road, Berhampore, Wellington
Operating Since:  2006


What are you all about?  
What kind of clothes do you make?
emma is my label and I'm Emma Wallace, the designer/director.  From my workroom/boutique in Wellington, I design, co-ordinate production, wholesale, retail and run the business side for all emma clothing and accessories.

We have a small dedicated team that create seasonal ranges to meet the demands of busy, creative NZ women for fashionable, well-made, sustainable clothing with a dash of whimsy and vintage detailing.

Who makes your clothes?
Having trained in Fashion Design and Technology, I really enjoy being hands-on creating patterns and samples.  We also work with a select and wonderful number of talented local contractors who are skilled in pattern-making, cutting and construction.  Thank goodness they are here!

Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
We do!  emma is available at our Wellington boutique.  We also wholesale to some lovely NZ retailers.  You can buy emma online at Foxes.

What price range are your clothes in?
We create new styles every season that range from merino wool tops, silk dresses to tailored winter coats so individual prices vary; but we like to keep them in a mid-price range.  Prices start from around $80.

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
I imagine it's primarily for business reasons such as volume requirements and price; also skills  and technical levels which may only be found overseas.  Our local manufacturing base has been eroded over the years so we really need to support the businesses that remain.  They pay fair wages, provide good work environments; and I really like that they are 'just around the corner'.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
Be smarter with their Buy NZ Made campaign - get to the grassroots, highlight & support new labels, publicise what's happening in local communities, target social networks and, most importantly, promote our uniqueness.  Remind Kiwis of what we have, what they value about it, and empower them to make a difference to our future by their buying choices.

Anything to add?
Thank you to everyone who supports NZ-made clothing - you are all stars!

Monday, May 9, 2011

*Sistahood. by freddy chur*

www.freddychur.com
Physical Address:  Raglan, New Zealand
Operating Since:  May 2009

Freddy & Andrew
What are you all about?  
What kind of clothes do you make?
We're about creating funky comfy Street Styles in an Earth Conscious way.  After producing the first range in Bali, *Sistahood* is now back to its roots, and made in Raglan.  Like a lot of Kiwis, we are striving towards self-sufficiency and living in Harmony with Mother Earth;  filling every step with as much Love as we can.  For the business, that meant working with Organic fabrics, toxic-free inks and Fair Trade practices.  The last Collections were very colourful and bright; the one we are currently working on is more earthy & subtle while still playful... Organic Cotton t-shirts, singlets, hoodies, pants and dresses.  Also very excited to announce *Brothahood*, organic Streetwear for Men :)

Who makes your clothes?
I do with my friends.  I design and cut.  My friend Dominique makes the patterns.  Phil & I do the screen printing.  And several friends do the sewing.  It's always been a dream of mine to work with friends & keep the production as local as possible; but as the business is growing, we might have to start doing some manufacturing in Auckland.

Can we buy them online?
Yes, please do :)

What price range are your clothes in?
$70 - $200

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
For some, it might be the beaten track.  For others, it might be a lifestyle choice...  For many, I'm sure, it is the fact that productions is cheaper & there are a lot more options than there are in New Zealand.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
A government grant to start up your business would be a great help.

Anything to add?
There's no separation - we're all part of each other & everything we do matters :)  And I would like to invite everyone to our first fashion show in Auckland on the 29th of May, as part of the New Zealand Organic Expo 2011!!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Mardle

www.mardle.co.nz
facebook.com/mardle
twitter.com/mardleme
Physical Address:  No physical shop, the Mardle workroom is currently based in my apartment's lounge!
Operating Since:  August 2008

Shiana Weir (right) during recent shoot
What are you all about?
Mardle is a Wellington-based label developing both women's and men's clothing with a fresh approach to the modern Kiwi wardrobe.  The concept for 2011 is for me to design and develop pieces on a project-by-project basis.  Breaking the rules of season-by-season collection releases, my aim is to have a higher level of choice throughout the year.  Designed on a whim but always with the same outcome in mind - to create the new favourite 'go-to' pieces in your wardrobe.

What kind of clothes do you make?
Instinctive 'go-to' pieces for the modern wardrobe.  There's a casual elegance about a Mardle piece, combining great fabrics with intriguing shapes and silhouettes.  The Mardle colour palette is made up of dark moody tones with fresh pops of colour here and there.

Who makes your clothes?
As part of Mardle's continuing commitment to the New Zealand fashion manufacturing industry & dedication to a higher quality of product, every stage of the manufacturing process is carries out in Aotearoa.  I do all the pattern drafting and sampling & I am currently making all pieces to order, and have found it is quicker and more cost effective to produce most pieces myself.  If I am doing larger runs (5 or more), I will send the pieces out to Stitch Products in Porirua.  I am on the hunt for a contract sewer to whom I can send one-off pieces and small runs to free up my time again for concept development and pattern-making.

Who sells your clothes?
Mardle is currently available from http://www.mardle.co.nz/ and at Salisbury Boutique in Dunedin.

What price range are your clothes in?
The Mardle 'New Favourite Tees' start at $50 and I'm currently producing dresses for under $250.

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
Well, the number of factories in NZ is steadily declining.  This is also contributing to a lack of choice which makes it difficult to get competitive pricing in NZ.  For small labels, it is a case of having orders too small for most manufacturers to take on, but not necessarily wanting to produce larger runs & sink capital into stock.  It's a tricky business and a fine line between overproducing and meeting demand.  The manufacturers who do still operate find themselves overwhelmed with orders.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
Provide incentives for small manufacturing businesses to keep afloat which would hopefully, in turn, lower the costs of manufacturing in NZ & make it more affordable for small/start-up labels to hit the ground running.

It would also be great if there was a centralised list of manufacturers and suppliers for businesses to approach.  When I first started, it was a challenge just finding out where to start looking for suppliers & who to contact to get certain product.  I also found that although many suppliers were NZ-owned/operated, a lot of their product was produced overseas & didn't fit in with my 100% NZ-made approach so changes to my plans had to be made.

Anything to add?
It is hugely encouraging to see so many labels springing up all over NZ and to see the staunch support the general public has given NZ labels in the last 10 years.  People's willingness to pay a slightly higher price for high quality NZ-made products has encouraged so much growth in our fashion industry.  Thanks NZ!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Erin Taylor

www.erintaylor.co.nz
facebook.com/Erin-Taylor
Physical Address:  3 Plimmer Steps, Wellington CBD
Operating Since:  I have been a dressmaker, working from home since 2008;  I opened my boutique and workroom in November 2010.


What are you all about?  
What kind of clothes do you make?
I don't mass-produce; my aim is to sell unique or limited stocks of good quality women's workwear and cocktail wear.  I also custom make any kind of dress/skirt.  I will be selling my own line of unique vintage style wedding gowns in Spring 2011.  I am also on a one-woman mission to bring a bit of class to the way women dress these days - for example, if I see another pair of denim shorts with holes in them, I will scream.


Who makes your clothes?
Me, in my workroom, which is visible from the footpath.  Some people come in and sit with their lunch, watch me work and have a chat.


Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
I sell them in my shop on the Plimmer Steps.  You can view what in-store online & use the contact page on the website to put an item on hold or order an item.  I am happy to send items throughout NZ with an invoice enclosed.


What price range are your clothes in?
On the rack: $69 - $385.  Dressmaking prices vary from $115 for skirts to $650+ for wedding gowns.  Jewellery is $24 - $35.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
I've heard it's cheaper.  I could never let my clothes be made in factories overseas.  It defeats the whole purpose of the idea of my business - to provide unique products.  Also NZers are prepared to pay a bit more for clothes that are made here & that will stand the test of time.


What could the government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
A tax break would be lovely!  Or a grant for businesses starting up that are making NZ-made products.


Anything to add?
Whatever you decide to do in life - just be passionate about it.  As success is much sweeter and failure is less bitter when you know you have given it everything.  Oh - and don't wear long tops with no pants - you don't look as good as you think :)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Katie-Maree Cole

www.katiemareecole.com
facebook/katie-maree-cole
twitter.com/KatiemareeCole
Operating Since:  January 2009


Katie-Maree (left) at Winter 2011 launch
What are you all about?   Making luxurious garments that are made in NZ & that make women feel beautiful.


What kind of clothes do you make? High-end womenswear in natural fabrics with a focus on colour, fit and texture.


Who makes your clothes?
Thorntons, manufacturers on the North Shore in Auckland;  owned and operated by Liz & Guy Thornton for the past 33 years.


Who sells your clothes?
The clothes are wholesaled throughout NZ; we are picking up a few new stores each season.


Can we buy them online?  Yes, please do :)


What price range are your clothes in?  Between $150 - $500.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
I think that it's about making a larger profit margin at the end of the day & being able to offer clothes at a price that a lot of people think is reasonable.  When you get things made in NZ, it puts the garments immediately into a pricier market & there are fewer customers that are prepared to pay the cost for garments made here.


What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
I don't think it is a government issue so much as an informed consumer choice, although maybe more information & promotion of NZ-made goods would help to educate the consumer.