 |
Elisabeth Findlay ONZM is a New Zealand fashion designer. [1] She co-founded the fashion house Zambesi with her husband, Neville Findlay, in 1979.
|
Elisabeth Findlay ONZM is a New Zealand fashion designer. [1] She co-founded the fashion house Zambesi with her husband, Neville Findlay, in 1979.
Findlay was born in Athens, Greece. In 1951 the Red Cross relocated her family to Dunedin, New Zealand. Though her mother taught her and her sisters how to sew, she never received any formal training in fashion design. At 21 she moved to Auckland and got a job working at a clothing company. Through this experience she learned how to use industrial machines, and the production behind clothes.
In 1976, encouraged by her sister, Margi Robertson, she opened Tart boutique store in Parnell Auckland. She selected labels to sell based on her own taste and included New Zealand designers such as Marilyn Sainty. She sold only a few garments in the store of her own design. A second store, Cachet, was opened in Takapuna in 1978. [2]
In 1979, her husband left his job as a design engineer and they formed their label Zambesi. [3] That same year, they opened their first store at 31 Lorne Street in Auckland, followed by a second store in Queen's Arcade in 1981. By 1986, these two central Auckland stores were merged to create their flagship store on Vulcan Lane. This store remained open until 2012, at which time they shifted to Britomart. [2]
The label first gained international acclaim in 1991 when they were first invited to show at Australia Fashion week in Sydney. This was the first year the New Zealand designers were invited to show at the Fashion week. [4]
In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, both Liz and Neville Findlay were appointed Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to business and fashion. [5]
2005, Zambesi: Edge of Darkness Auckland Museum
Karen Elizabeth Walker is a noted New Zealand fashion designer.
Dame Trelise Pamela Cooper is a fashion designer from New Zealand. Her designs have featured in magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Women's Wear Daily, InStyle and the television series Sex and the City.
Celia Birtwell, CBE, is a British textile designer and fashion designer, known for her distinctive bold, romantic and feminine designs, which are influenced by Picasso and Matisse, and the classical world. She was well known for her prints which epitomised the 1960s/70s. After a period away from the limelight, she returned to fashion in the early 21st century.
Anya Susannah Hindmarch, is an English fashion accessories designer who founded an eponymous company.
Betty Jackson, is an English fashion designer based in London, England. She was born in Lancashire. In 2007, her success in British fashion was recognised with first an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1987 and later with a CBE for "services to the fashion industry." She is also known for designing many of the costumes worn by Edina and Patsy on the 1990s hit television comedy Absolutely Fabulous.
The New Zealand Fashion Museum is a virtual fashion museum in New Zealand established in 2010. It was the brainchild of fashion designer and fashion historian Doris de Pont. Established as a charitable trust in January 2010, the museum holds "pop-up" exhibitions around New Zealand and runs as an online museum. It draws from public and private collections to pull together its exhibitions, featuring designers such as Liz Findlay and Margi Robertson.
Gurshon "Gus" Fisher was a philanthropist and leading figure in the New Zealand fashion industry. He headed the fashion house El Jay for 50 years, introducing Parisian style to New Zealand, and was the New Zealand agent for Christian Dior for 33 years from 1955 until 1988. In 2001 The University of Auckland opened the Gus Fisher Gallery, named after him in recognition of his contribution to the gallery. In 2010, Fisher and his wife Irene were the recipients of the fifth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for Patronage.
Bruce Papas was a New Zealand fashion designer.
Marilyn Claire Sainty is a New Zealand fashion designer and furniture designer. In 2006, she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Poland fashion industry.
Emma Cecilia Knuckey was a pioneering New Zealand fashion designer, known for her evening gowns. Her work is currently held at Auckland Museum, Te Papa and the MTG Hawke's Bay.
Dame Denise Ann L'Estrange-Corbet is a New Zealand fashion designer and businesswoman. She founded WORLD, a fashion label, in 1989 with her then husband, Francis Hooper.
Doris de Pont is a New Zealand fashion designer and director of the New Zealand Fashion Museum.
Margarita Anna Robertson is a New Zealand fashion designer and the founder and creative director of the New Zealand fashion line NOM*d. In the 2018 New Year Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the fashion industry. She is credited with helping define what is known as "the New Zealand Look." In the words of the New Zealand Fashion Museum, "Margarita Robertson’s status as a national designer of significant cultural importance is recognised in public collections and by her inclusion in recent exhibitions, biographies and histories on New Zealand fashion." In 2011, Robertson's creations were featured in a single-artist exhibition held at the Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore, July 28–2 September.
Trish Gregory is a New Zealand fashion designer and businesswoman, who achieved widespread recognition as one of New Zealand's leading and innovative designers in a career spanning half a century.
Trilby Yates was a pioneering New Zealand fashion label. Founded by sisters Trilby and Julia Yates, it operated from the 1920s to the 1950s. Along with Ninette Gowns and Bobby Angus, it is considered one of the founders of New Zealand fashion design. The careers of designers Nancy Hudson and Hall Ludlow began at the label, and it is credited with introducing New Zealanders to trousers as fashionable wear for women.
Vinka Dragica Lucas was a New Zealand fashion and bridalwear designer, business owner and co-founder of New Zealand Bride magazine.
The 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on 2 June 2008.
Kristine Mary Crabb is a New Zealand fashion designer and artist. A prominent figure in New Zealand fashion, she is known for her Karangahape Road boutique Rip Shit and Bust which ran from 2001 to 2003, and for her fashion label Miss Crabb which ran from 2004 to 2019. In 2020 she launched Gloria, described by Crabb as a wide-ranging creative project.
Kate Sylvester is a New Zealand fashion designer known for combining sportswear, lingerie and traditional tailoring. Her designs are often influenced by books or art, and the fashion of the 1930s and 1950s.
Cathrine Anne Coolahan is a retired New Zealand commercial artist, fashion illustrator, and printmaker. Her work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the British Museum.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)