For Karen, green is the new black

For Karen Walker, a lower carbon footprint is vital in a vehicle. Photo / Supplied

She's New Zealand's most successful fashion designer with such fans as Madonna and stores around the world - so what Karen Walker drives is as important as what she wears.

But don't expect this Aucklander to be driving a blinged-out sports car - instead for Walker it comes down to being altruistic and brand alignment.

Walker's relationship with Lexus NZ and its hybrid SUV began four years ago with a trip to the US.

She shows at New York Fashion Week - the only Kiwi designer to do so - and has her line for sale in department stores in New York City. So Walker often commutes from Auckland to the Big Apple.

She used to take Lincoln Town cars to and from JFK airport to Manhattan. But after reading an article in Vanity Fair magazine about Ozo cars - a chauffeur fleet made up of only hybrids - she changed her ride.

"I was keen to offset my carbon footprint from Auckland to New York City too," explained Walker. "So I booked a Toyota Prius for when I landed at JFK airport and when I got in it, I looked across at all the Town cars and thought, 'you look so yesterday, I look so today'."

Not only was Walker happy with the low carbon output of the hybrid, she was impressed that the vehicle had wifi (then a relatively unique concept), so she could work on her laptop on the long drive to Manhattan.

After a successful business trip, Walker again booked a hybrid chauffeur car - but this one wouldn't just impress her with its technology, it would change her life in New Zealand.

"On the way back from Manhattan to the airport a week later I decided to treat myself and book a Lexus. I fell madly in love with that car," she said.

So, on return to Auckland she ditched her Range Rover and bought a Lexus four-wheel-drive RX400h.

And with this purchase, her relationship with Lexus NZ also began. Walker speaks at some owner functions for Lexus and held a fashion show at the opening of the new Lexus dealership in Grey Lynn - turning the car yard into a catwalk.

"We don't align the Karen Walker label with any brand that doesn't fit, but the relationship with Lexus feels right," she said.

She has also seen the 'Karen Walker' affect - with her fashion fans buying Lexus.

So when Lexus NZ launched the RX450h in 2009, Walker was one of the first people to own one.

And what colour is it?

Black, of course.

But Walker isn't the only New Zealand fashion designer aligned with car companies. Yvonne Bennetti and Huffer's Steve Dunstan are Audi ambassadors.

For Bennetti, her alliance with Audi began in the early 2000s when she returned from working in Hong Kong.

"I choose Audi for their design, sleek lines. I liked their understated style," said Bennetti.

Former professional snowboarder turned fashion entrepreneur Dunstan is Audi's A1 ambassador, and went to the international launch of the A1 in Berlin last year.

After that trip Dunstan designed a range of hats and tee-shirts for the launch of the three-door hatch back in New Zealand in November.

And for the amateur DJ, one of the most important features for Dunstan's own A1 was the top-of-the-range BOSE Surround Sound.