facebook.com/flaxen
Physical Address: 4 Wallis Street, Raglan, Waikato
Operating Since: 2004
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| Mistral Wray |
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.
Flaxen's website is now up and running with an online shop so check it out! Until May 20, enter the promotion code "celebrate" at checkout & receive $20 off your purchase.
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