www.gemmaltd.co.nz
facebook.com/gemma
facebook.com/GemMaternity
Physical Address: 63 Magdala St, Tainui, Dunedin 9013
Operating Since: 2006
What are you all about?
What kind of clothes do you make?
Gemma Ltd has two labels: our women's wear label, Gemma and our maternity label, Gem Maternity. Our aim is to provide women with gorgeous NZ-made clothing that makes them feel confident and look amazing. We started our maternity label in wake of myself & a lot of our regular customers having babies, and wanting gorgeous preggy clothes to wear!
Who makes your clothes?
We do everything in our workroom from designing, patter making, cutting, sewing to finishing. And that's exactly how we love it!
Who sells your clothes? Can we buy them online?
We have our own online store on our website! We also have a couple of stockists on our website.
What price range are your clothes in?
$35 - $219.
Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
It's a hard balance to get. You want to support NZ-made but you also don't want your customers to have to pay the earth for your garments... the cost is the main factor, I believe.
Anything to add?
For small companies, CMT companies can work out very expensive. I would love to see more outworkers start their own business at home! I would choose an outworker to do my sewing over a CMT company any day! Nothing like supporting people trying to make a living from their own home!
www.salisburyboutique.co.nz
facebook.com/salisburyboutique
twitter.com/salisburyboutique
Physical Address: Salisbury House, 104 Bond Street, Dunedin 9016
Operating Since: April 2011
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| Sheryl & Hayden |
What are you all about?
Salisbury Boutique was born out of a love for Dunedin, heritage, design, fashion and quality New Zealand-made products. Established in 2011, Salisbury Boutique's flagship boutique is located in the heart of the chic historic precinct at Salisbury House & is the ultimate in destination shopping. We source NZ's latest new designers and provide an outlet for New Zealand's most fashion-conscious to purchase tomorrow's next big label today. Products are fashioned in limited numbers & can be hard to find elsewhere. You may have already seen several of the labels gracing the catwalks if iD Fashion Week, Wellington Fashion Week and NZ Fashion Week, taking this industry by storm. We are also re-inventing how to shop; emphasising and encouraging people to see fashion as an investment and an experience to enjoy. Open Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday until late, the shop is also open by appointment for private shopping and 24hr online. We often hold events for our clients and those in the fashion industry. We have relationships with the Otago Polytechnic, Design Fashion Incubator, the Audacious program, Dunedin City Council and Economic Development Unit, among many others.
This unique boutique is also part of a bigger concept promoting business in Dunedin and New Zealand. Salisbury House is already home to a strong business collective that has encouraged young entrepeneurs to stay in New Zealand to start up their business. We are personally and professionally in encouraging the refurbishment of character buildings in Dunedin's historic Warehouse District. Central to our business plan is the marketing of Dunedin as a leading centre of business innovation and design, in addition to its already established reputation as a centre of creative fashion design.
What NZ-made labels do you sell?
Too many to mention! Check them out online.
What price range are your clothes in?
$30 for a singlet through to $600 for a winter coat.
Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
Cost and scale. Producing overseas is definitely cheaper than doing it in NZ. Here we have limited people in NZ who still have the ability or expertise and machinery to produce clothing or shoes in New Zealand. In addition to this, many production companies have minimum numbers you have to produce & for exclusive/unique boutique NZ designer businesses, who do not want to mass produce a range, this makes it very expensive to get things done. When it costs more to make a product, the margins for everyone are much smaller. The designer and retailer both have smaller cuts than products made overseas. This = more money for everyone if it's made overseas.
What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
I would say, through business support. Starting a business is hard work in itself; financial support, business mentoring and benefits provided to stay producing in NZ can go a long way. Most people would rather produce NZ-made but have limited capital or business knowledge to start.
