facebook.com/thewhiteroom
Physical Address: 135 Ward Street, Hamilton
Operating Since: 2004
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| Jacob & Miranda Scott-Simmonds Tina Patrick (centre) |
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.
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