Bubbalino

www.bubbalino.co.nz
facebook.com/bubbalino
twitter.com/bubbalino
Physical Address:  Auckland.  
I work from a home-based office and sell online.
Operating Since:  October 2009

Vanessa and family

What are you all about?
I am a full-time stay-at-home mama of two, who believes in beautiful, quality cotton garments for gorgeous growing children.  Bubbalino began out of necessity.  I started out with the "Bibette" - a stylish but functional dribble bib for my daughter who was a very spilly little Miss.  One thing led to another and I found myself in business making these little Bibettes for friends, coffee group mummies, and then boutiques around the country.  There was nothing I had seen that was as beautiful as I set out to create; and although there were other similarly styled 'bandana' bibs available, they were all made from novelty or kitschy, typically 'baby'-looking fabrics and I didn't want anything that screamed 'infant'.  The expansion into a few select clothing pieces was a natural evolution to complement the Bibette & to keep my daughter dressed in the cuteness I hadn't found elsewhere. Once I had a son, I naturally began to design pieces for him & the expansion continued into a range for Little Lads


What kind of clothes do you make?
Bubbalino is a small boutique label creating a small range of gorgeous clothing for newborns to 3 year olds.  You can find heirloom styled pieces in our range including Ruffle Buns which are gorgeous under-dresses or on their own; the Itty Bitty Playsuit which is perfect for rough'n'tumbling little guys; the Chloe dress which is great for a special occasion; and of course the Bibette which comes in a wide array of fabrics to suit any outfit.


Who makes your clothes?
I have a wonderful woman based in Onehunga who does all my sewing. Her workmanship is impeccable and her sewing skills are immaculate.  I feel very confident with her behind the machine.


Who sells your clothing?  Can we buy them online?
Currently Bubbalino is stocked in about 25 boutiques and gift stores throughout New Zealand and one store in Japan.  And you can, of course, purchase direct through our website.


What price range are your clothes in?  
Prices range from $17.50 to $69.90.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
Because from a financial point of view, it seems like an absolute no-brainer.  It's incredibly difficult as a wholesaler to make any real money when making quality garments from beautiful fabrics in NZ.  Yet I continue along this road because I believe in the concept of "Made in New Zealand". I also understand it's not feasible for many people to buy NZ-made for their children, even if they'd like to, when our cost of living is so high & there are so many cheaper labels available that have been made offshore. Children grow out of clothing well before it wears out & to spend a lot on their clothing even for a better quality garment just sometimes may not make financial sense for the consumer.


What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
I definitely think it would be a great idea to provide support for keeping manufacturing in New Zealand.  I wish there was an incentive for the CMT (Cut, Make & Trim) industry to be bigger and more accessible than it is. In doing my research, I was astounded to find that using a locally based CMT would mean the cost of the labour alone (not including fabric, thread, domes, buttons, swing tags or labels) would be more than the current total wholesale price of any of my garments!  And that's just sad.


Anything to add?
At the end of the day, I do this because I love it.  Bubbalino has become my third child & I believe in my brand, and the beautiful clothing and accessories that I've developed.  I don't know what the future holds but for now, I'm enjoying myself.

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!

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.

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.

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.