Ground Effect

www.groundeffect.co.nz
facebook.com/groundeffectcycleclothing
Physical Address:  Ferrymead, Christchurch
Operating Since:  1994

The Ground Effect crew after winning the regional
Sustainable Business Network 'Trailblazer' award last year.

What are you all about?  What kind of clothes do you make?
Ground Effect manufactures and sells direct a range of cycle clothing from socks right through to seam-sealed waterproof jackets.  Our customers get to talk directly to us; the guys and gals that design, test and manufacture the clothing.  Our heritage is in taking outdoor technical fabrics and applying them to cycle clothing; pretty unique back in the 90's but still very relevant now.  Our byline, "Gear for the Cycling Revolution", covers all forms of cycling from mountain biking right through to road cycling and commuting.


Who makes your clothes?
Our factory is right here in Christchurch.


Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?
We only sell direct through our catalogue and website.  New Zealand orders are delivered by overnight courier.


What price range are your clothes in?
$9 to $299.


Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
Manufacturing locally works for us.  We operate a quick response system - holding minimum stock and replenishing the shelves when the pile gets too low.  Most of our fabrics are made here too, which gives us some flexibility in terms of raw material lead-times.  We've watched a number of Kiwi brands reach a certain sales volume and, if their business is scalable, explore manufacturing somewhere with lower labour costs and potentially better technology.  It then become a volume and margins game with a big rush into opening new markets.  Brand names like Mac Pac are also being traded and turned into vertical stores in NZ and Australia; importing and selling direct, using Kathmandu's volume discounting model to sell their wares.


What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
Most of our sales come from exporting our clothing.  The strength of our dollar makes us an expensive proposition in our UK and US markets; while at the same time, it's never been cheaper to import our competitors' products.  We can't expect that to change in the near future - so the next thing on our radar would be to ensure that with our closest export market, Australia, tax and duty is not applied to imports under $1000.

Philippa&Alice

www.philippaandalice.co.nz

facebook.com/philippa&alice

Physical Address:  Porirua, Wellington

Operating Since:  January 2010

Alice & Philippa

What are you all about?

What kind of clothes do you make?

We both came together with two different design aesthetics and merged the two; Alice being very feminine and soft, and myself more structured and tailored.  We felt like it was a complementing combination. We make clothes for the mature woman and the youthful; anyone with a bit of confidence who likes to wear something unique.  We feel like we have something raw and exciting to offer to the New Zealand fashion industry.  We love to go crazy with colour and print.

Who makes your clothes?

Up until our recent collection we produced everything ourselves.  As the demand has got higher, we have started getting a portion of our stock made at Stitch Products in Porirua.  We love being NZ made and it is a great selling/buying point for Kiwis.  

Who sells your clothing?  Can we buy them online?

We stock at Rex Royale in Wellington, Salisbury Boutique in Dunedin, Guilty As Sin in Napier and Palmerston North.  We also have a few potential new stockists that we are currently in communication with for our summer 12/13 collection but mum's the word for now :)

We have just developed our website with an online store.

Our winter line has just gone up - check it out!

What price range are your clothes in?

They range from $100 - $400ish.

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?

Money basically.  It is more ethical and preferred to keep New Zealand labels NZ-made but unfortunately, in this industry, it sometimes has to be done if you don't want to be charging mega bucks to retail your clothes. New Zealand has lost a lot of its manufacturers over the last few decades due to its competition in Asia, etc.  However we would love to stay NZ-made as long as possible.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?

The Government could help support local manufacturers in these hard economic times to keep the businesses up and running.  It comes down to supply and demand, basically.  The fewer manufacturers there are in NZ, the more they can charge and therefore the appeal of going offshore becomes greater.

Emma Highfield

www.emmahighfield.com

facebook.com/emmajanehighfield

twitter.com/emmahighfield

www.emmahighfield.blogspot.com

Physical Address:  Auckland

Operating Since:  October 2009

What are you all about?  

What kind of clothes do you make?

The Emma Highfield lingerie and sleepwear brand is fun, feminine and flattering; designed and handcrafted in New Zealand with an emphasis on high quality, non-mass produced garments.  I currently construct all garments myself in my home-based studio & love that I have complete control over every element of the design, pattern-making and construction process.

Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?

All garments are currently sold online here or via my Etsy store.

What price range are your clothes in?

NZ$30 - $120

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?

I believe one of the main contributing factors is the cost.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?

Offer young designers and small businesses grants and scholarships & help establish mentor programs and internships with established designers.  

There needs to be an incentive.

Anything to add?

Love the job you do!

Swonderful

www.swonderful.co.nz

facebook.com/swonderfulshop

twitter.com/swonderfulshop

Physical Address:  241 Cuba St, Wellington

Operating Since:  15 September 2007

Ginny & Frances McMullen

What are you all about?

What kind of clothes do you make?

We are a mother and daughter team - designing, making clothing as well as jewellery & other bits and bobs.  Our label is called Papercup and our shop is called Swonderful Boutique.  We've just moved to a great new location on Cuba Street in Wellington.  We are loving having space out the back of the shop for our workroom.

Papercup clothing is vintage-inspired high quality clothing that flatters the female form.  We mainly use cottons and natural fibres, usually with an emphasis on the waist.  We are inspired by the 1940's - 1960's.  We love French cinema, sausage dogs, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.  We like to name our dresses thing like Roman Holiday, Cabana and Hot Date.  We make beautiful clothes because we love them;  we have a shop because we always wanted one!  We don't take things too seriously and that's the way we like it.

Who makes your clothes?

About half our clothes are made out the back of the shop by Frances, co-owner and amazing designer/seamstress.  We have a couple of outworkers who help with the cutting, pattern-making and sewing the trickier fabrics (like silk!).  Stitch Products in Porirua have also been great to us and make the rest of the range.  Both our outworkers are only about 10 minutes away - we keep it very local!

Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?

Currently us at Swonderful (both in the actual shop and online) and The Yellow Brick Road in Auckland.

What price range are your clothes in?

$55 - $300

What other NZ-made labels do you sell?

We sell Harriett Falvey, Love Love Lorelei and Typing Pool (our side label - vintage inspired workwear).

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?

Because it's cheaper. It's the sad truth of it.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?

We really think they should introduce grants for small businesses aiming to produce items in NZ - whether it's clothing or other things.  It sucks there isn't more support for businesses like ours.  Especially during this recession, the Government should be helping business to keep it in NZ.

Lela Jacobs

www.lelajacobs.co.nz

facebook.com/Lela-Jacobs

Physical Address:  504 Karangahape Road, Newton, Auckland

Operating Since:  Just over two years.

What are you all about?

What kind of clothes do you make?

The aesthetic direction of Lela Jacobs is minimal and understated with an emphasis on strong design, innovation and androgynous appeal without trend victimisation.  A monochromatic colour palette of predominantly blacks, grays, whites and neutrals accentuates the conceptual silhouettes and strong lines of a Lela Jacobs design.

The label values high quality fabrics, locally well made garments, accessories and unique explorative thinking.  The designs intend to be thought-provoking, versatile and highly wearable through inquisitive thought, challenging technical patternmaking and experimental silhouettes.  These are executed in luxurious and high-end fabrics valued for their quality, finish and durability throughout the garment lifecycle. This is evident from the selection of exquisitely soft and opulent natural materials such as silks, cottons, leather and merino.  Supporting the local economy is an integral part of the brand's values; favouring local manufacturers, hand knitters & collaborations with crafters and artists.

Who makes your clothes?

Stitch Products in Porirua.  Queen Maureen = our hand knitter.  Emma Evans = our leatherworker.  And in-house for bespoke styles.

Who sells your clothes?  Can we buy them online?

We have select boutique stockists nationwide and a few internationally.  You can also buy through our online store and very soon in our flagship store, 'The Keep'.

What price range are your clothes in?

From $100 to $1000.

Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?  Price point.

What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?

Dress better.

Anything to add?

A word to all readers - please put consideration into your future purchases.  Enough of this disposable world, we should be buying things we want to keep for longer than fads sake.  Quality not quantity.  Also, be aware of "sales" scams.