Six emerging fashion brands from Aotearoa New Zealand to add to your closet
Exploring the rising talent of up-and-coming fashion designers in Aotearoa New Zealand, where our passion for craftsmanship, sustainability and self-expression blends with creativity.
Adrion Atelier
The atelier proudly celebrated its first anniversary in March after a challenging year of learning how to balance creativity and business. As a designer, Adrian continuously challenges himself to create pieces that question the mindset of how we dress and consume clothes as commodities. With his brand 'Adrion Atelier,' he develops unique and innovative designs that are well-constructed and produced using artisanal methods, attracting like-minded individuals who appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. Adrion Atelier prioritizes exclusivity, mirroring individuality. The brand offers one-off and pre-order pieces created in collaboration with consumers, allowing basic customization based on preference. Additionally, it provides ready-to-wear pieces that exhibit carefully crafted and curated styles, maintaining the motif of exclusivity by not reproducing designs sold out in a particular fabric. Once it's yours, it's exclusively yours.
My favourite piece is the ‘Youhan Windbreaker Jacket’. The iconic 90s windbreaker style - reimagined, inspired by effortless style and energy of his friend and collaborator, Youhan. Made out of durable but lightweight nylon and modal knit or rayon lining makes the perfect layering piece for the winter. The jacket comes in four different colours - black, beige, chocolate and oxblood. The jacket’s exaggerated silhouette mix with the colours create a modern deconstructed look that can be added to anyone’s closet.
adrionatelier.com
Amélie Knits
Amélie embodies slow art, preserving the authenticity of handmade fashion through transparent efforts in sustainability and traceability. Nat, passionate about knitting, now delves into weaving, learning from a community of skilled wāhine toa. She constantly refines her practice, exploring new fibres and techniques. Starting with handmade knitwear for friends and whānau, Nat expanded to Instagram due to demand. Amélie offers pre-order pieces for full customer control and limited ready-to-order selections. Nat is proud to be involved in every step of the process.
The oceanview knit, my favorite from Amélie, is named after Nat's knitting spot. With its loose knit and silk, mohair, and wool blend, it's versatile for any season. Each piece is one-off, handspun by Nat.
amelieknits.com
Rhoda Nunn
Emma finds inspiration for her brand in 'The Odd Women' by George Robert Gissing, naming it after one of the protagonists, Rhoda Nunn, reflecting early feminist themes. Her brand delves into nostalgia, from wistful to playful emotions. As a designer, Emma views fashion as foundational to identity, fostering a sentimental bond between clothing and wearer for confident self-exploration. She intertwines nostalgia and optimism, guiding a journey through emotions and memory, extending the wearer's identity through juxtaposition and reference. Encouraged by Jess from Bizarre Bazaar, Emma debuted her infamous bloomers from her final collection in late 2021, receiving overwhelming positive feedback and deciding to pursue the brand. All ready-to-wear pieces are handmade by Emma in Ōtepoti using natural fibers and deadstock materials. She also offers custom commissions. Her motto, "Don’t leave projects half-finished!!", drives her to produce more ready-to-wear collections while maintaining local production and expanding her audience through collaborative projects with other creatives.
Remember the default Microsoft screensaver with green grass and blue skies? Rhoda Nunn's twist on it resulted in the iconic 'Bliss Skirt,' a fully-lined bubble style skirt made of linen and cotton, reflecting flirtatiously youthful vibes.
rhodanunn.com
Thirty Nine
Findlay specializes in costume design, particularly corsets and period garments, as a costume technician at 'The Court Theatre.' Learning alongside skilled costume designers and tailors, he applies invaluable techniques to his own practice. Thirty Nine subverts theatrical romanticism by infusing traditional techniques with a provocative edge, reflecting unique and sometimes eccentric personalities. Launched in 2020 alongside the first 'Big and Strong Pop-up' in Ōtautahi, it has grown to feature over 30 designers and artists, prioritizing durability and longevity in its small collection. A standout piece is the micro mini bow skirt, paired with the strapless opera corset, both crafted from high-quality dupion silk, creating a charming, intimate, yet mischievous look.
"Juggling a full-time job with designing, creating, marketing, networking, and learning is a significant challenge, but I take pride in the immense effort and love I've put into Thirty Nine."
thirtynine.nz
Buddy
Think of Buddy as a canvas.
“I love the democratic nature of the t-shirt, because it is a garment that is so commonly worn, so regularly. Your favorite tee becomes part of your life in a way, I see it as a bit of a living entity.” Helen, initially a fashion stylist and curator, felt a deep understanding of clothing and world-building, leading her to launch Buddy in 2018. Surrounded by passionate sustainability advocates during her fashion studies, she was inspired to focus on hemp as a fiber source and perfect the fit and feel of garments. Most of Buddy’s products consist of 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton, leveraging hemp's antimicrobial properties and breathability for sustainability. Helen aims to use Aotearoa-grown hemp for Buddy's garments, experimenting and perfecting new product ideas to share with the world.
With Buddy, you can’t go wrong. Their Mini Tee collection offers a fun range of colors, catering to those seeking unique fits, especially for petite women.
buddybuddy.world
Sewnar
SEWNAR - pronounced ‘sonar’, an acronym for “Sewing, New, and Repurposed” - perfectly embodies functionality.
“As my design style developed through repurposing and patching things together, so did the sentiment.” Inspired by “Militaria,” Arlo delves into the visual aesthetics and philosophy of design. Life rafts, tents, billboards, and boat sails are his favorite materials, cleverly extending their lifespan by transforming them into something new, maintaining their functionality. Reusing, repurposing, and resourcefulness are SEWNAR's ethos, aligned with sustainability. Founded in 2020, Arlo continues to experiment with materials and techniques to innovate further. The laborious process of creating SEWNAR items, from cleaning to sewing textiles together, results in one-off pieces due to their origin. They also accept used materials like life rafts and tents for commissioned work.
SEWNAR’s newest collection, “TACT,” features wearable pieces inspired by Automotive Sealing and Sound Dampening techniques, focusing on sensory and physical components. Their popular bags, now made from leather hide, showcase the brand's versatility.
Available at The Keep
Round-up by Nikirei
