Showing posts with label New Zealand designers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Zealand designers. Show all posts

Stolen Girlfriends Club Spring/Summer 2011

In 2005, three Kiwi surfers founded Stolen Girlfriends Club in Auckland, New Zealand; namely, Dan Gosling, Marc Moore, and Luke Harwood.

For summer/spring 2011, SG Club has prepared a collection entitled “Heavy Petal,” which is all about getting nude....well alright...light layers!

Garments feature detailed paneling of silk organza, Georgette, and cotton poplin.

Have a peek at the collection here.

Photos 2011 s/s collection “Heavy Petal,” Copyright Stolen Girlfriends Club.

Silverdale—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand

Silverdale Knitwear was established in 1946 by the Antcliff family and is based in Levin–an hour north of Wellington on the West Coast of New Zealand.

Since its inception, Silverdale has been at the forefront of the knitwear market, blending its technical expertise with future trends and consumer demands whilst maintaining an ongoing commitment to quality materials, workmanship and service.

Whether sourcing raw materials from the Southern Alps of New Zealand or from the best yarn houses of Italy, Silverdale is passionate about creating beautiful and luxurious knitwear pieces that embody a proud history of quality and style.

Launching in Winter 2008, Silverdale by Andrea Moore fuses the quality of elite knitwear manufacturer Silverdale with the chic creations of fashion designer Andrea Moore.

The result is a collection of smart, slouchy chic and body-skimming pieces that hint at military and tuxedo influences in shades of crème brûlée, pumice and aubergine with shocks of vibrant scarlet.


Wayward Heir—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging”

“I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day.” — Frank Sinatra

The Rat Pack, smoky Jazz Clubs in Vegas, cigars in one hand and dirty martinis in the other, classically cut suits that ooze swagger and confidence; the 1960s were about well-groomed bachelors who had a good time and dressed impeccably to do so.

Wayward Heir’s collection for summer 2010/2011, “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging” is influenced by the swinging sixties and takes the best aspects of slim line suiting of that era and adds a modern
spin.

The sophistication of the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin is mirrored in the slender silhouettes, fitted jackets and laid-back casuals that remind us of just how cool those cats really were.

“It is how the greats used to dress -with class and sophistication and a bit of cheekiness thrown in,” says Wayward Heir designer Jaime Winks. “A collection that will make any man the epitome of style and swagger - like Frank, Dean and Sammy,” he says.

Narrower lapels, flatter fronts, slimmer sleeves and slightly tapered and more fitted trousers are all throwbacks to Vegas’ greatest era and the iconic bachelor lifestyle of the members of the group of men who have been emulated the world over ever since.

Lighter and softer fabrics show the evolution of the style; patterns and colours are varied and inventive while still keeping that classic look. Chintz charcoals, silvery greys and blacks are all staples in the colour scheme of the suiting, while shirts explore dusky pinks and blues and the addition of prints with a contemporary twist.

The “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging” collection from Wayward Heir captures the fun and excitement of the sixties, the iconic time of effortless cool, with pieces that can be worn to the office, the races or even to a smoky jazz bar at the Bellagio.


Trix & Dandy —Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Dazed but Not Confused”

“How does it feel to be on your own, with no direction home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone?” —Bob Dylan

The moment devilish yet trigger-happy Dandy, one half of the dynamic and stylish criminal duo Trix & Dandy, hit a losing streak; his glamorous dame stole away in the middle of the night with her former beau, Mickey.

The pair tripped through the late 1960s, with Trix performing at Woodstock and Mickey teaching hippies that taking LSD actually meant taking every Lock, Stock and Dime.

And so begins the next chapter of the Trix & Dandy story, a dynamic diffusion label born from the creative mind of Michael Pattison.

“During Woodstock, fashion became about expressing yourself, decorating yourself, and showing your spirit in a very different way than it was before,’’ says Pattison. “Throw in a bit of superior tailoring, and you have everything Trix & Dandy is about.”

There is the Joplin-esque look for dynamite divas, with drop shoulders, relaxed tunics, explosive florals with a festival flavour and tie dye patterns. Lizard Kings get to enjoy a hedonistic range of jeans, pants, tees, singlets, shorts hoodies and shirts that are cool, hip and definitely groovy.

Pattison continues to seamlessly blend knits and wovens with other natural fibres (but no hemp); while prints are way out with inkblot birds, Twiggy tripping on paisley and a chick with an afro that’s seriously fierce.

Freedom with a capital ‘F’ was born in Woodstock, and this summer Michael Pattison’s Trix & Dandy allows the love child in you to step out in style.


Rembrandt—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Goldeneye”

“You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.” — Ian Fleming

As an intelligence officer at the British Naval Intelligence Division during World War II, the covert work of Ian Fleming provided the background for his spy novels, which featured the now infamous secret agent James Bond.

But it is Fleming’s retirement in the late 1950’s to Goldeneye, his estate in Saint Mary Parish Jamaica that provided the inspiration for the Summer 2010/11 collection from Rembrandt.

“Every person plans to run off to some tropical isle, but few do,” says Rembrandt designer Jonathan Hall. “Fleming had no limitations to making Jamaica his home; he purchased property, designed a house and set about doing paradise right,” he says. “The estate was like Fleming himself and everything I wanted this collection to be: simple, direct, filled with panache, character and elegance.”

Make a sartorial statement by choosing a lighter shade of suit in wool and silk, pure cotton or wool and mohair, many sourced from the finest Italian fabric mills. Slim silhouettes abound, completing the move from high fashion to mainstream menswear.

Ian Fleming lived a remarkably uncompromising life in a world full of compromises; in this same manner even starting price Rembrandt business shirts feature two-ply yarns and the seasons suiting cloths are largely Super 120’s quality and above.

Choose from a selection of elegant, sophisticated and innovative tailored jackets that run the gambit from modern to classic casual styles and prove that there is no need to sacrifice style and fit because you are dressing down. “The collection offers the perfect excuse for a man to wear a suit for pleasure instead of business,” says Hall.

For the first time, Rembrandt offers the waistcoat as a separate; dress it up with a Metropolis shirt and Kubrick trousers, or keep it relaxed with a Saddle shirt and Hoxton jeans. Compliment it all with Rembrandt’s range of leather goods and their new range of belts.

Casual classic belts are turned into sophisticated urban accessories, and like Fleming’s love of authentic detail feature oil lined or feathered-edge leather, solid Italian brass buckles, are made in New Zealand and come in a range of styles that every man should own.

All of this adds up to summer must haves essential for lounging in paradise, romancing women and chasing the sunset.


Elusiv—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Spirit”

“Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.” — Leonardo Da Vinci

The spirit is the vital force that exists within living things; Elusiv is the menswear label that embodies the spirit of today’s intuitive and stylish Kiwi man.

“Every item of Elusiv clothing is defined by a story of its influences,” says designer Nicola Reilly. “There is distinctive detailing that instills in each garment the quality, fit, fabric and structure of the spirit of New Zealand,” she says.

Elusiv understands versatility like no other with the summer range promising ready-to-wear clothing that requires next to no styling; these pieces will become a lasting part of any man’s
wardrobe.

Both casual and formal pieces cater to every guy’s summer needs. Structured waistcoats to relaxed fitting tees, every occasion is covered with a range of print designs and sleeve lengths.

The jewel of the Elusiv summer collection however, has to be shirts. “We have really focused on shirts this season: shirts for work, weddings, race days; wherever you want to look sharp, there is an Elusiv shirt to fit the bill,” says Reilly.

The collection features Elusiv’s characteristic neutral earthy tones, punctuated with stunning cobalt blue and the purity of white.

Kiwi men will be proud to get dressed into the spirit of New Zealand with Elusiv tees that integrate designs of traditional New Zealand culture with a fashion forward element; and now that Reilly has her own screen-printing facilities, there are new designs available every week at their online store at elusiv.co.nz.

Let Spirit from Elusiv be your style guide this summer.




New Zealand 2010-11 Spring/Summer Series: (Remember, your winter may be Kiwi summer!)
Doosh—Spring/Summer 2010-11 in New Zealand: “Wild at Heart”
Rembrandt—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Goldeneye”
Trix & Dandy —Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Dazed but Not Confused”
Wayward Heir—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging”

21 Grams—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Sicker than your Average Bear”
Silverdale—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand


Photos 2010-11 s/s collection “Spirit” Courtesy Coco PR, Copyright Elusiv.

Doosh—Spring/Summer 2010-11 in New Zealand: “Wild at Heart”

To celebrate a rebirth of the Doosh label, their summer collection, “Wild at Heart,” explores youthful rebellion and romance from decades past.

Every item needed to create a complete wardrobe is in the range, including Dirty...tees, tops, and knits alongside hard wearing denim and drill jeans, pants and shorts of every length.

Colours include vibrant hot pink, sassy cobalt blue, sensual midnight and sweet sunshine yellow—perfect for engaging in adventures both extreme and demure.

Guys gear is grittier than collections past, taking a direction with separates that is fashion forward and yet fierce, masculine and enduring.

The collection embodies everything the new Doosh is: paradoxical, iconoclastic, hedonistic, with enough nostalgia to evoke rebellion and the fickleness of youth—for anyone truly Wild at Heart.


Photos 2010-11 s/s collection “Wild at Heart” Courtesy Coco PR, Copyright Doosh.

Zambesi Autumn/Winter 2010 “The Enigma”

The Enigma is Zambesi. A winter collection that defies obvious definition and manages to deftly combine effortless ease with complexity.

In a collection that references the traditional—trench coats and streamlined suiting—a sense of futurism somehow dominates the mood. Simple concepts like the little black dress become imbued with considered intellectual drama. Pleats and draping create a new sculpturalism while unexpected texture and trademark detailing add depth.

An elongation of line, refocusing proportion while still referencing traditional tailoring defines the collection. Suiting is linear and precise, reliant upon vital yet subliminal detailing like deliberate pick stitching. Wool cashmere imbues a three-quarter length coat with subtle luxury. Three quarter lengths also turn up in interpretations of the trench coat, the factory worker dust coat and toggled duffel coats.

Collegiate references continue with felted wool letterman jackets. Similar sporting influences are present too in trackpant trouser shapes. Suiting trousers continue the lean line of the season’s suiting with both flat-front and pleat-front styles. Slim line jeans in textural contrast combinations, such as PVC and moleskin.

Knitwear
Brushed wool mix adds texture to oversized collegiate jerseys in black with broad stripe sections of contrasting green tea or maroon. Chunky New Zealand Merino invokes the landscape with slouchy cardigans with cable detail and shawl neck jerseys in graded brown or grey merle.

Notable Color is dour and subdued. Ink-saturated shades of navy and cool brown tones are used in unconventional combinations with black as the central axis of the collection for both men and women. Grays are also key in both pale merle felted wool and darker grey pleated suiting.

Geometric prints reinvented in silks and cotton, vintage florals, over dyed soft cotton tartans and abstract landscape patterns also feature. Fabrications include wool, mohair, angora, silk, hi-sheen PVC, felted wool, fine wool gauze.

Accessories
Black matt leather link-detailed belts and bags, Victorian spat boots, customized Chuck Taylors, fur pillbox hats and chunky Merino merle beanies, louche ankle boots and slipper shoes with elongated toes, fine knit neck ties, and removable fur collars for coats.

Zambesi Profile
Born 1979 in New Zealand, Zambesi epitomizes individual spirit, redefining convention with an ironic practicality, confirming its reputation in the global market for strength, beauty and independence.

Designed by Dayne Johnston, the Zambesi men’s collection is designed by Dayne Johnston is inspired by the design values and philosophy of the label. Offering a masculine interpretation, the men’s collection conveys a modern attitude and influence.

"Clothes to wear every day, but not every day clothes."
- Dayne Johnston



Photos & slideshow 2010 autumn/winter collection “The Enigma,” Copyright Zambesi.

Federation: the Skate/Streetwear Label from Auckland NZ

They’re cool. They’re fun. They’re Nick and Jenny Clegg.

Nick and Jenny met for the first time in 1995 while vacationing on a New Year’s surfing trip at the Great Barrier.

Now, the husband and wife team are in their 10th year of what they had both dreamed for years: their own company.

Nick was originally a professional skateboarder with a background in graphic design; whereas Jenny worked as a design assistant after having received her BA in Fashion Technology.

Concerning their skate/streewear label, Federation, Nick writes:

We have a good long-term plan that we are working to, and so far it’s really been a case of timing that plan. Obviously part of that has always been our international expansion and we have been working towards that over the last couple of years—so essentially the growth we are experiencing now is really just a culmination of all our hard work.

However, there have been a lot of unexpected surprises, especially at the start of 2010—and we received some great feedback in Europe with some of the best retailers in the world really loving what we’re doing. We have such a great team, and NZ Trade and Enterprise has been an integral part of enabling us to develop our international presence and facilitate the actioning of our vision.

Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Federation has been picking up accounts all across the globe.



Photo & slideshow Copyright Federation.

“I need someone really bad. Are you really bad?” by World

Fueled by energy and passion, in 1989 Denise L'Estrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper founded WORLD in Auckland, New Zealand.

From a cupboard in the back of Century Arcade on High Street, Denise and Francis have turned their label into one of the predominant fashion houses in the country.

For this 2010 autumn/winter season, World presents “I need someone really bad. Are you really bad?”

The collection takes us on a whirlwind tour through pop culture, visiting historical themes of icons past, as well as contemporary looks with a touch of avant-garde.

Vibrant colors and contrasting details accentuate the luxuriousness of the collection, which will have you ready for both daytime dress and evening attire.


Photo & slideshow 2010 autumn/winter collection, Copyright WORLD.

"Portraits of Success" by Rembrandt

In 1968, filmmaker Andy Warhol (1928-87) asserted, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”—a statement that Warhol continually rephrased over the decades.

The assertion, however, sprung from Warhol’s perception of how the media could make anyone famous for a moment, simply to dispose of the individual at will.

Surrounded by celebrities and superstars, Warhol could appreciate the fleeting nature of the 20th-century’s great icons and their capricious sense of styles.

Now, these images are echoed throughout the 2010 fall/winter collection of New Zealand label, Rembrandt, enabling every man to capture a moment of permanent success and project an enduring image of assurance, achievement, and confidence.



Photos & slideshow Copyright Rembrandt.

"Just Dandy" by Wayward Heir

“Style is the dress of thought.”
- Lord Chestereld

The modern-day suit and tie easily find their roots in the style of dress promoted by George Brummell (1778–1840), a staunch advocate of tailored or fitted clothes, elaborate cravats, and full-length trousers.

For fall/winter 2010, Wayward Heir has decided to pay tribute to George Brummell and his style of dress, which has come to be known as dandyism—that menswear and attitude so typical of the Regency period.

“It has been too long since men in general have taken real pride in their appearance and we want to change that,” says Wayward Heir designer Jaime Winks. “Give men a clean, confident, modern, and luxurious look to be admired.”

The Wayward Heir collection is youthfully edgy, pristine in cut, and immaculate in fit. Suits appear in vivid grey with solid checks and bold stripes—all spiced with a dash of purple, green, and blue hues.

“There is a difference between standing out because of your outfit and you standing out in your outfit,” says Winks. “This is the brand for the confident, self-aware, and charismatic individual who knows who he is and wants the whole room to know it too.”

Photo top right, Copyright Wayward Heir, a line of Rembrandt.
Photo bottom left, George Brummell, Public Domain at Wikipedia.

"Easy Street" by Trix & Dandy

I normally don’t post press releases word for word but rather prefer to rewrite them in my own words.

Nevertheless, there are exceptions to almost every rule and—besides—I do not think I could express the following concept any better:

“Far from being neck deep in sawbucks and cruising Easy Street like they planned, the dynamic criminal duo of glamorous Trix and sly Dandy are on the lamb from the law.

To make a dollar Trix is doing any gig she can get at the more swanky underground clubs, while Dandy is scamming and skimming on the poker tables in backroom casinos.

The double act is the inspiration for the dynamic new diffusion label from Michael Pattison.

Only in its second season, the winter 2010 range sees the Dandy man in relaxed tees with iconic and pop art prints; hoodies with a wider range of color options, knit options and because you can’t get into a casino without a collar, shirts that focus on subtle detailing.

‘The menswear is about pieces that have a bit of designer flair but that work for both casual and corporate environments,’ says Pattison.

‘The collection is unied by styles rather than a distinctive color palette,’ says Pattison.

‘If you love dressing glam and hitting the big bad city for a night of hustling and gun play, those dressed in Trix & Dandy will help you pull off any caper in style.’”





Photos Copyright Trix & Dandy.

Elusiv: “Enduring” Fall/Winter 2010

Now celebrating 5 years of European-influenced men’s fashion, the New Zealand label Elusiv is presenting a remix of all that, which designer Nicola Reilly represents.

“This collection is all about sophistication and understated style,” says Nicola. “I want guys to have fun with the way they dress. They shouldn’t feel restricted or pressured to dress a certain way. It’s all about breaking free of the mould.”

The collection is based on Elusiv’s most successful items, which have been handpicked by Nicola herself: tailored coats and jackets, fitted jeans and pants, stylish t-shirts, and a wide assortment of accessories—all of which are designed to last long with little upkeep.

While these items are the most Enduring of a man’s wardrobe, the color palette is completely reminiscent of the rugged New Zealand coastline.

“They are stormy colors,” says Reilly: “colors of a West Coast beach after a high tide.”

Photo Copyright Elusiv.

"Satellite Spies" by Doosh

“Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.”

Serbian Proverb

“I have always been fascinated by space,” says New Zealand designer Theresa Brady. “It is so far beyond anything we can imagine that we can’t conceive of the wonders it holds.”

Theresa began designing the 2010 fall/winter collection at Doosh during the 40th anniversary of the moonwalk, an event that instilled her with deep inspiration.

Envisioning the immensity of the universe, Theresa embedded maps of New Zealand in the tees and hoodies.

You will also find seismic waves washing across the garments, while shooting stars streak across the black sky.

If you are aiming for the stars, then Satellite Spies is waiting for you!

Photos Copyright
Doosh.

"Blame It on the Rain" by FourFountaine

As we enter the dead of winter in the countries of the North, winter looms on the horizon of the Southern Hemisphere.

So for one 2010 fall/winter collection in New Zealand, we are going to blame it all on the rain!

Party cancellations, postponed wedding celebrations, puddles everywhere...

“Winter weather is like life,” says FourFontaine director Mark Hurley. “Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad; there’s nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella.”

Little can we do except accept the inevitable with a color palette of moody blacks, along with blues and gray—all of which are punctuated with white, baby blue, orange, and a lively purple.

Check out the prints, too, and pay tribute to those gloomy, tumultuous skies with howling wolves and cawing crows, skulls, Gothic keys and axes, butterflies, fruit, and fluffy clouds that dot the blue skies—all pointing to the glorious arrival of spring and summer!

As W.J. Vogel stated, “To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring.”

Photos Copyright FourFontaine.

"Take It or Leave It" with World

Designers Denise L’Estrange-Corbet of New Zealand and Hong Kong-born Francis Hooper met while working in retail, in Auckland, New Zealand.

“Bored out of their minds,” they conceived the label World one late night while waiting on the corner for the bus!

Geared more to the local gay scene at first, the two designers slowly extended their repertoire to funky designs with clashing colors and eccentric fabrics like plastic table cloths.

Now one of the most avant-garde labels of New Zealand, World pursues continual innovation and renewal of ideas as they fulfill an educative role in the fashion world.

Most striking is their positive attitude, which undergirds their trend-setting label: “You either take it or leave it with World!” I think I’ll take it!!!



Photo & slideshow 2009-10 s/s collection Copyright World.

Rembrandt Repaints Palm Springs

Although already trading in the 1930’s, the Rembrandt menswear company was founded 1946 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Today, Rembrandt sells to over 400 retailers in New Zealand and Australia, producing four distinct lines: Rembrandt, Wayward Heir, César, and Kent & Lloyd.

The Rembrandt 2010 s/s collection was designed to revive the popularity of the mid-19th century architecture in Palm Springs, not only evoking images of art deco and Spanish-influenced styles but also recalling the “desert modernism” of Swiss-born architect Albert Frey and the modernist, airy structures of Austria-born architect Richard Neutra.

Palm Springs is enjoying a resurgence of popularity,” says Rembrandt designer Jonathan Hall, “attracting people keen to revel in the fantastic design, architecture, and attitude that made the town so popular in the middle of last century.”

The collection, entitled “Mirage,” adds space-age colors of chrome, titanium, and silver alloys to a palette of sun-faded colors and desert shades of sand and stone, all of which are punctuated by pastels that recall the splash period of British pop artist David Hockney.



Photo top right Albert Frey’s Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Copyright Lockley at Wikipedia.
Photo middle left Richard Neutra’s Miller House by Ilpo's Sojourn, Creative Commons Attribution at
Wikipedia.
Photo 2009/10 s/s collection "Mirage" Copyright
Rembrandt.

Crowded Elevator—Crowded and Going Up!

Like going up and down the floors of a high-rising department store, Carl Thompson just could not find anything that suited his tastes. He felt like the market was crammed with a lot of cheap t-shirts from outsourcing factories that had a bunch of decals ironed on.

So in June 2007, Carl set out to design what he was looking for: a line of high-quality street wear with some fantastic designs.

Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Crowded Elevator is a new brand of funky, eclectic clothing geared for generations X and Y.

Entitled “Walking on a Dream,” Carl’s 2010 s/s collection invites X-ers and Y-ers to walk in the footsteps of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, the Native Americans, and the Australian Aborigines—societies of both the past and present that dared to dream.

Reviving a mild hippie theme of the Sixties and Seventies, psychedelic and neo-punk aesthetics are blended into simple, casual silhouettes of what Carl calls “dreamy designs.”

Youthful, vibrant, and full-of-energy, this elevator—as crowded as it may seem—is definitely going up!



Photo Crowded Elevator 2010 s/s collection “Walking on a Dream” Copyright Coco PR.
Slideshow Crowded Elevator 2009 a/w collection “Electric Universe” Copyright
Coco PR.

Doosh: Carefree as a Kiwi

Designer Theresa Brady had always expressed a profound love for fashion, a love that she began to extend to urban wear lovers in 2003 when she met up with Steve Ingram, former owner of the Kiwi label, Doosh.

Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Theresa now owns and designs for the 14-year-old company. Building on the original designs of Doosh, she has acquired an audience of urban music lovers between the ages of 18 and 30.

The 2010 s/s collection, entitled “Folklore,” personifies the relaxed, carefree, and casual attitude of the Kiwi lifestyle.

Feeling uptight? Try Doosh to be free as a Kiwi!



Slideshow Doosh 2010 s/s collection “Folklore” Copyright Coco PR.