Meet the new wave of Kiwi fashion designers

Saturday, 28 March 2026

These are Aotearoa’s new fashion designers to watch.

Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa proves, Aotearoa’s fashion future is bright, writes Georgie Wright.

Over the past week, some of Aotearoa’s most exciting fashion talent has been storming the runway at Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa, Tāmaki Makaurau’s underground fashion week. It’s been brilliant to see – times are tough for New Zealand’s creative scenes right now, but as Āhua proves, there’s no dearth of innovative, resilient talent making cool things happen in our country. Here’s a sample of some of Aotearoa fashion’s new wave to support and swan around in.

Laurence Sabrine

I am based in … currently Pōneke, which is also where I grew up. My work explores the fragments of queer Filipino diasporic identity, so Pōneke influences and inspires my work quite naturally.

If I described my clothes to a stranger I’d say … I usually make womenswear, but it’s all inspired by Filipino photographs from the 1800s. I use a lot of plaids and a lot of draping. When people wear my clothes,

I want them to feel … cheeky, charismatic, cool.

If my label was a song, it would be … ‘ Girl of your Dreams’ by Eli.

If I could choose one person to wear my clothes … Bella Hadid would be the ultimate dream.

What makes Aotearoa fashion unique is … its resourcefulness and determination, it’s really encouraging to see it!

Read more:

Adrio Atelier is based in Hahei/Whitianga.

Adrion Atelier

I’m based in … Hahei/Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula. Being somewhere more rural and close to nature gives me space to slow down and focus on the craft of making.

My interest in design … started early, growing up in South Africa, where I remember watching my mother sew and becoming curious about how garments were constructed.

Adrion Atelier focuses on … sculptural silhouettes, soft tailoring and subtle deconstruction. I’m interested in the tension between structure and fluidity garments that feel controlled and refined, yet remain expressive.

Oosterom’s designs are for women with fast-paced lives.

When people wear my clothes, I want them to feel … confident, expressive, empowered.

If my label was a TV show, it would be … probably something like the TV show Schitt’s Creek. I love the contrast it plays with a rural setting, but with moments of high fashion and strong character style.

My concern for Aotearoa fashion is … that many of the people and businesses that support the craft – the manufacturers, fabric suppliers and technical specialists – are becoming fewer. As designers and brands grow, having a strong local industry that supports the making of garments is really important for the future of Aotearoa fashion.

I would love to see … Tilda Swinton wear Adrion Atelier.

Oosterom

Daf Nimkovsky has been designing from a young age.

We’re based in … Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

I design for … women with fast-paced lives working in creative corporate roles who want a cohesive, effortless wardrobe that can move seamlessly between work and the rest of life.

Design has … always been part of my upbringing. My mother was a landscape designer, and my oma spent much of her life sewing after immigrating to New Zealand from the Netherlands in the 1950s. Making things by hand was simply part of daily life growing up, so it felt natural to carry that creative lineage forward.

Oosterom focuses on … fit, construction and luxurious fabrics. Each piece is designed to be timeless and versatile, forming the foundation of an elegant wardrobe that women can rely on season after season.

When people wear my clothes, I want them to feel … calm, assured, comfortable.

Daf Nimkovsky

I’m based in … central Tāmaki Makaurau.

Mitchell Vincent is from Taupō but is now based in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton.

I started designing because … I’m not sure why but from a very young age I have wanted to be a fashion designer, and to this day I still find old notes always with the same dream.

What I enjoy about making clothes … is that there is an analytical side to it, as you need to translate two-dimensional patternmaking onto the body.

My designs involve … a wabi-sabi approach to beautiful fabrics, with an amalgamation of tailoring and draped techniques.

When people wear my clothes, I want them to feel … confident, sexy, offbeat.

If one person dead or alive could wear my work, it would be … Jane Birkin.

Siara Marx (right) runs Sleeping Profit.

I hope the Aotearoa fashion industry … as a whole has more support as an important part of Aotearoa’s cultural identity. Especially with what we can do with fibres such as merino, and rebuilding an industry of local manufacturing houses.

Mitchell Vincent

I’m originally from … Taupō (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) but am now based in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton, in the heart of the Waikato. I feel my influence comes from relearning and connecting to te ao Māori, combined with my knowledge of fashion design. Together, these bring my kākahu stories and values into ready-to-wear fashion.

I started designing … back in high school, but it was really when I began working in fashion retail and noticed the lack of culturally-driven designs and the appropriation of other indigenous cultures, that the fire to build a brand was fuelled.

My clothes are … wearable stories, ready-to-wear garments that are taonga, blending cultural heritage, modern style and ethical values.

Aotearoa fashion is unique because … it carries a narrative that only we here in New Zealand hold. For Māori fashion, this is even more pronounced, coming from an indigenous lens blended with contemporary creativity.

I dream of a future where … Māori and Pasifika designers lead the global conversation, shaping fashion with cultural integrity and innovation.

Sleeping Profit

I’m based in … a few places. Tāmaki Makaurau tells me to make outfits for the nightlife, Ōtepoti has a cool, masculine and Gothic influence, and the nature of Aotea inspires me to use vibrant colours.

My clothes are … very girly and edgy at the same time. Lots of corsets and mini skirts and iridescence. Everything should make you feel like you immediately want to go to a party.

If my label was a film, it would be … Sleeping Beauty.

I want my clothes to make people feel … magic, beautiful, sexy.

If I could dress anyone in my clothes, it would be … Mary Magdalene or Britney Spears.

My fear for the Aotearoa fashion industry is that … a successful fashion label is only possible for those who already have money. I hope every creative gets the chance to put their work out there. Aotearoa is not a cheap place to make clothing, so I also hope customers understand how much mahi goes into everything and can support independent designers.