Where does your inspiration come from?
Mostly fashion, fabrics and nature. I love work by designers like William Morris. Fashion more-so, for the Kiwiana Collection. I think nothing looks more classic than black and white with a touch of red. And I love the neon brights coming in for the summer so wanted to give a nod to that too. I also have some really stylish friends who inspire me with what they wear and what they love! Fashion design-wise I’ve always loved Prada and Chanel, and of our NZ designers I love Trelise Cooper and Annah Stretton.
How does your creative process work?
When I get an idea or inspiration for a collection, I really just want to sit at the computer and start playing around – I now have a ton of image files that have “play” in the filename! Often I’ll search the internet for a particular image or design that I want, that I can purchase from a graphic designer - it’s not always working smarter to re-invent the wheel. Sometimes things come easily – like some of the Kiwiana designs - I had a really clear picture of what I wanted and they designed themselves really. For others in the collection I started doing one thing and they veered off in a different direction completely – sometimes it feels like some designs are never really “finished.”
’Kitchen Table’ or Studio? And who do you have behind the scenes?
In the warmer months I work in “The shed” – where I can leave everything out and come back to it later, but in winter I definitely have my spot inside at the table - near the fire! My husband is long-suffering and encourages me to go for it. My mother is