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 :)

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.

Morphic - Creative Clothing

www.morphic.co.nz
facebook.com/MorphicClothing
twitter.com/MorphicClothing
Physical Address:  New Brighton beach, Christchurch
Operating Since:  2006

Ray Singer & Halee Moss

What are you all about?  
Colour and creativity.  Nature and natural NZ made fabrics.  Sustainability.  Keeping it made in New Zealand.  Personal freedom and choice.  Expression.  Making top quality clothing.




Who makes your clothes?  
Morphic garments inspired, designed, created and crafted by Ray and I at our studio by the beach.  We have a lovely friend Jill who helps sew some of our clothing range from her home.  We've recently made a short film showing how we make each garment.  Come see it on the information page of our website.


Who sells your clothes?  Ray and I personally at the Arts Centre Market in Christchurch every Saturday and Sunday, when the weather is fine.  Here people can play dress-up, buy off the rack or place an order for a custom fitted garment in their choice of colours and print.


Can we buy them online?  Yes. We sell our clothing online and specialise in offering a custom service to our customers.


What price range are your clothes in?  Our prices reflect the amount of effort and materials used in each piece.  We have a variety of styles and options to suit different budgets, starting with our merino hoodies for $120.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
Mainly because they want to increase profit and they see getting cheap labour overseas as a way to do this.  This doesn't always work as people are becoming more interested in spending their money on ethically created products and would prefer to support homegrown companies.


Anything to add?  We get so much joy in seeing someone put on a garment we've made and look put at the world with confidence, knowing they look amazing.  It's magic!

Deryn Schmidt

www.derynschmidt.co.nz
facebook.com/DerynSchmidt
twitter.com/DerynSchmidt
Physical Address:  Workroom/Home is in Whitby, Porirua.
Operating Since:  This is a brand new label, having started the business in October 2009, with my debut range for Spring - Summer 2010 titled "Growth" in stores now.

Deryn, Millicent and Carl

What are you all about?  
What kind of clothes do you make?
After more than ten years in the industry, working my way up the fashion ladder for a number of designers both here in NZ and England, I am now turning a childhood dream into reality with the launch of my very own label. I am all about producing 100% NZ-made collections of high fashion women's wear; utilising the talents of some very skilled local individuals along with highly regarded NZ manufacturers to ensure my high standards are met.  I also have an established preference for selecting natural fibres to design with, which assist me in creating quality garments that not only look great but feel great too.


Who makes your clothes?
The current range is almost entirely made locally in the greater Wellington region; split between myself and some very talented outworkers, including a great local manufacturer. I also use a manufacturer in Auckland, and plan to utilise another in Nelson as production increases.


Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
We are stocked at some lovely boutiques around NZ, with a Christchurch store to be announce for Autumn-Winter 2011.  We do not currently operate an online shop but please feel free to contact us via the website, or email info@derynschmidt.co.nz.


What price range are your clothes in?
Mid-Upper price range for high end garments designed and made to very high standards from quality fabrics.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
The most obvious reason is to make more money by reducing costs and increasing margins; with another being around the ability to manufacture in large quantities, often from just one factory offering a one-stop shop.


What could the government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
Honestly, I don't think the government are all that interested in helping & agree with the comments made by Davey Hughes from Swazi Apparel in the November blog.  It really does come down to the priorities/morals of each clothing label; with the demand, or lack of demand, from the consumer also playing an important part in influencing these production decisions.


Let's hope more people start demanding 100% New Zealand made to help stop the current trend of moving production offshore.  


Anything to add?
For us, it is all about supporting New Zealanders like ourselves, to ensure we don't lose the expertise, skills and knowledge available locally.  Sure, it may cost a little more to produce; but to guarantee the quality, retain and create jobs, support the NZ economy, preserve our identity and uniqueness - is that not worth the premium?


Thanks, Angeline, for the opportunity to be a part of your blog and your passion in supporting NZ made!

Cactus Equipment

www.cactusequipment.co.nz
facebook.com/CactusClimbing
twitter.com/cactusclimbing
Physical Address:  90 Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch City
Operating Since:  1992

Rob Gray
Guy Nurse (reflected)

What are you all about?  What kind of clothes do you make?
Cactus was born of the outdoor and climbing industry, initially focusing on climbing related products.  It soon became apparent that there were many more uses for the style of durable, practical, locally made products we were producing.
As the company has expanded over the years, a wide range of outdoor equipment and clothing has evolved.  Our popular products include the WK work wear range - lightweight casual right through to heavy-duty industrial garments, packs and bags.


Who makes your clothes?  
We do - in Aotearoa.  Both at our factory in Fitzgerald Ave, Christchurch, and at contract manufacturers.


Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
Our products are sold through several retail stores, direct through our website, and through a factory showroom store located on site.


What price range are your clothes in?
Our clothes are designed and made in NZ to wear in, not out.  The price of our garments reflects this, and the life of our clothing will far exceed that of similarly priced clothing.  Prices range from $69 to $449.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
For a range of reasons, though I'd suspect the most common reason would be to reduce production costs and improve margins.  There is something special about crafting a product on shore and in-house, seeing it go from an idea to a finished product.  Our customers also like the fact that a product can be repaired and/or modified to their needs in-house and on site - all they need to do is ask!


What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
We don't want to see others penalised for making their gear offshore.  We stand by our product, its price, and the fact that it could be the longest lasting product you'll ever buy.  In offering subsidies to local manufacturers, the Government could give the opportunity for locally made products to compete with imported clothing on pricing, not just quality.


Anything to add?
Choice blog, we value what you are doing, Angeline; and thank you for the opportunity to profile our gear alongside the many other quality products here in Aotearoa.