ANNAH STRETTON TURNS 21

By Claudia Innes

Next month Annah Stretton will celebrate the 21st birthday of her company the Stretton Clothing Group, home to labels Annah Stretton and Annah.S, a company that has seen exponential growth over the last two decades. 

From a small wholesaling base located on her family farm just outside of Morrinsville, to a thriving hub that continually contributes to the Waikato community, there are over 120 men and women employed by the company and thousands more devoted buyers.

The Annah Stretton brand has grown to include 30 retail sites throughout New Zealand and Australia with its import and export operation growing globally by the day. 

While historically Annah’s brand has been based around a highly feminine and colourful model, like all designers her styling has developed and become more refined over the years. Garments are created with a focus on usability and practicality while not sacrificing on style.  

Infamous for being both a left and right thinker, she has a creative, but sharp eye on her company’s bottom line. The constant development of the Chameleon dress, the one dress that Annah suggests will oust all others from your wardrobe, has continued to impact very positively on the company’s annual income, enabling the brand to set itself apart and maintain steady growth in a very difficult and crowded market. 

In 2005 Stretton established the publishing arm of the company, which has grown to include Her Magazine (formally Her Business), Who’s Who, which showcases New Zealand’s leading businesswomen and Pink magazine which supports New Zealand breast cancer initiatives. 

In addition to directing her collection of business interests, Annah’s boundless energy also allows her to continue to be actively involved in a huge number of philanthropic endeavours and nurture projects. Most recently the mentor has established a collaborative collection to nurture fellow designer, Kiri Nathan, as well as a nurture partnership with Phoenix Renata of Phoenix Cosmetics. 

In 2008, the true level of Annah’s achievements and generosity of spirit was captured when she was awarded the honour of becoming a Member of New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Fashion, Business and the Community.

Following on from this recognition, Stretton became the 2009 New Zealand recipient of the Veuve Clicquot Award. This global tribute acknowledges female achievers in business and industry who exemplify the qualities of Madame Clicquot, the woman behind the successful champagne house Veuve Clicquot. 

While the size of her operation has grown tremendously over 21 years, Stretton’s motivation has remained the same - to provide her customers with the frocks they love, the quality they deserve and service well beyond their expectations, as well as add to the social fabric of the environment around her.

Throughout her career Stretton has detailed her learning experiences and stories through two published books: From Rag Trade to Mag Trade (2007) and Wise Heart: 10 Strategies for Success in Business & Life (2010). In celebration of her 21 years in business, Stretton will share the wisdom and experience that has made her one of New Zealand’s most recognised figures in fashion and business in her third book, Rock the Boat. 

Out this April, the new book is all about getting women to stand up and be counted and to not be afraid of using their voice to make change in their environments. She encourages all women to never accept the status quo and believe that they can reach for the stars and live a life that truly generates rewards for them. 

Supported with contributions from CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi Worldwide, Kevin Roberts, World of Wearable Art creator, Suzie Moncrieff, alongside other serious New Zealand business achievers, Annah’s new book is a must read manual for all women that strive daily for that elusive life and business success. So where to next for Annah Stretton?

“To have the Annah Stretton label rise to become a globally recognized brand that trades with a strong conscience and heart within the business of fashion. In particular we will be developing a large physical presence in Australia – adding to our existing four retail sites in the coming year, as well as reciting our single cell retail stores in New Zealand to the larger Birds of a Feather environments that enable the in-store women’s events and collaborative partnerships to be maximised.”

Mi Piaci opens Melbourne flagship store

Local footwear and handbag retailer Mi Piaci is set to branch out into the Australian market, with a flagship store opening in Melbourne this week.

With 13 stores across New Zealand, the Melbourne store opens in the acclaimed new Fashion Wing of Highpoint Mall, sitting alongside the likes of David Jones and Topshop.

The new Highpoint redevelopment is a logical fit for the Mi Piaci launch into Australia, positioning the brand amongst national and international high-end retailers.

The new store opens it’s doors with an evolution on the fit-out as seen in the Mi Piaci stores across New Zealand.

Grand travertine plinths, plush carpets, and classical detailing pay homage to the Italian heritage of the collection, a look that coincides with the new logo in the brand’s winter 2013 imagery.

The logo references Mi Piaci’s Italian roots, with the crest a direct link to the emblem of the small Italian town where the family originated.

Stocking the Mi Piaci Winter 2013 Collection, the Melbourne flagship store will open on Wednesday March 13, 2013.

 

2013 iD International Emerging Designer Awards winners announced

Global inspiration combined with unique detailing was behind the winning collection in the ninth iD International Emerging Designer Awards, held on Thursday night at the Lion Foundation Arena in Dunedin.

Otago Polytechnic graduate Rakel Blom took out the top Peroni First Place Prize at the iD Awards with her collection ‘The World Through My Eyes’, inspired and influenced by textiles and travel.

The judges described the collection as “eclectic and joyful, sleek, chic, and professional, with intricate detailing and true depth”.

Hosted by FOUR’s Shannon Ryan, the packed out 1300 strong audience were wowed by the collections of 30 finalists from around the globe vying for top prizes. 

This year’s winners delivered on the international nature of the awards – coming from all around the world – from New Zealand to China, the UK to South Korea and Australia to Ireland.

The standout finalists impressed the prestigious judging panel, which included Stephen Jones, Karen Webster, and Margi Robertson, with their brave use of technology and diverse range of collections.

This year’s winners are: 

Peroni 1^st Place Prize (NZ$5000): Rakel Blom, School of Design, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Caffe L’affare 2^nd Place ($3000 cash): Emma Boseley, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia.

Strawberry Sound 3^rd Place ($1000 cash): Kathleen Choo, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

Dunedin’s Golden Centre Mall Prize ($1,000) for the most commercial collection: Blathnaid McClean, National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Dublin, Ireland.

 Global Fabrics Award for Excellence in Design ($1000 cash and a $2000 voucher): Sohong Lim, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.  

Fore more information visit idfashion.co.nz

  

 

A weekend in Shanghai

By Tim Phin

I’ve been lucky enough to spend the weekend in Shanghai. It’s a great place to go on a business trip but also has some great things to do for tourists. Now that Air New Zealand operate daily direct services to Shanghai from Auckland there is no excuse not to check it out. So what do you get up to on such a short trip?

A walk along the Bund is essential and is a must see in the daytime and at night. It’s a historic part of the city that overlooks the modern new financial city that has been built up from slums to commercialism in the past 20 years. It serves as a tribute to China’s new found capitalist culture. 

Here I am up underneath the SWFC Building Observatory, also known as ‘The Pearl.’

Shanghai boasts numerous high-end shopping malls such as Plaza 66, which host all the heavy luxury brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and so on. Many of these malls can be found a short stones throw from the neighborhood of alleyways in the Old City where the bustling Œwet markets sell everything from turtles, eels, and freshly chopped (head off) chicken.

Fine dining and socializing is best along the Bund or in the French Concession. For the best cocktails in town try El Coctel in the heart of the French Concession area. Other highlights include the Old Shanghai Tea house in Yu Yuan Bazaar and the fusion of Zing dynasty food at Lost Heaven.

 The highpoint of the trip was the ultimate ride through the city in a Shanghai side car – pretty exciting – and hilarious having the looks from the locals with us westerners on an old Chinese army bike with a red army hat.

Shanghai’s political past can be seen if you seek it out. Here is me and Chairman Mao.

I also checked out Shanghai Propaganda Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and took a stroll through Xiangyang park to watch Tai Chi.

As a keen entrepreneur I’m always looking out for business opportunities and Shanghai has a lot going for it in this sense. Air New Zealand operates daily direct services to Shanghai from Auckland. Return economy class airfares start from $1662 per adult including taxes. For further information on Air New Zealand services to Shanghai, visit airnzewzealand.co.nz

Original & Mineral

Mimi Kelly is the artistic director/owner of Killer Hair, Newton. She’s an award-winning hair colourist and makeup artist. Every week Mimi will be doing what she does best... give her opinion.

There ain't much I don't know about shampoo. The hair care market is bursting with choices and my money's on products free from sulphates, parabens and the like, created by companies with compassion for animals, the planet and you. 

Original & Mineral create beautiful formulations free from chemicals but still deliver amazing results. They have a unique 3 step care system.

1. Detox, this is using the Original Detox Shampoo $38 350ml, it smells fresh with Australian river mint and leaves hair lighter, almost squeaky clean and rid of build up from product, oil and pollution. Most importantly it's prepped for the next step. 

2. Cleanse, this is with your prescribed care shampoo depending on hair's texture. I use Hydrate and Conquer $38 350mls which through its sea kelp ingredient delivers tons of vitamins and amino acids that are important for my blonde locks.

3. Care, here is where the hair is treated to the hydration best suited for what you put it through. Again I used Hydrate and Conquer $38 350mls this one smells like sweet almond oil and ylang ylang flower. Not only does it smell delicious but it gives my chemically challenged hair a wonderfully balanced hit of moisture.

The end result is perfect delivery of the essential ingredients. My hair feels fully hydrated but lighter and my colour brighter and more radiant.

Yip, I was pretty impressed and O&M have a innovative backstory where through necessity an Australian hairdressing couple went out to make products and professional colour without using chemicals in a bid to reduce there own reactions through exposure. What they have created is a line that is picking up major fans worldwide. Leading hairdressers and celebs like Miranda Kerr and Rachel Zoe have raved about their love for O&M.

They do the cutest little travel sizes $17.50 50mls perfect if your interested in trying and seeing the results for yourself, not to mention an amazing styling line all professionally tested and adored. So lose the chemicals and use your head.