Retail therapy: Designer on fast track

Adrian Hailwood leads the way. Picture / Carolyn Robertson

Adrian Hailwood is thinking big and hoping he's on a fast track to fashion success with his plans to open four stores in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin by the end of the year.

It's an ambitious plan for any designer. But fortunately for Hailwood - who is working on the final touches to his winter range - help is at hand.

Fellow designer Annah Stretton has come on board as a business partner to help him boost his label here and overseas.

Stretton, who has 14 years of experience in the fashion industry in and 30 stores throughout the country which stock her label Annah.S label, will offer her business skill while Hailwood will focus on what he does best - designing.

"There are no plans to combine our design interests," Hailwood says. "Our 'handwriting' is very different and we respect each other's creative base. My designs will remain 100 per cent me."

Hailwood acknowledges the differences in their fashion labels but says the new partnership is a winner. "Annah works at light speed - very different to me - but my company needed a good push."

Bag a bargain

Extreme sale alert. For end-of-season Prada, Miu Miu, Marni, Yohji Yamamoto, Yves Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten, Dolce & Gabbana and Comme des Garcons phone Yvonne Sanders on 021 720 965 to make a time to view from today until Friday (2 June). It will be worth all the secret squirrel effort as the clothing, bags and jewellery are being sold for as much as 50 per cent off the retail price.

Makeup moves up

Glamorpuss, the hip makeup boutique, is leaving its 290 Broadway address today and moving to the 21 Nuffield St building, also in Newmarket. The only snag is the smart new address isn't quite finished, so for a few weeks they're offering complimentary delivery for all orders over $20. Good news indeed for anyone who can't bear to be without their Becca cosmetics. Ph (09) 524 4741 or go to the Glamorpuss website to order.

The upmarket Nuffield St building will also have chic fashion boutiques, including Alannah Hill and Trelise Cooper Kids.

Search the wardrobe

Fashion hoarders are being urged to search their wardrobes for hidden treasures by fashion designer Annie Bonza, who wowed the Auckland fashion scene for 40 years with her distinctive braided clothing.

Bonza was a star of the Benson and Hedges Fashion Awards in the 80s and 90s and her garments were considered as much art as fashion.

Te Papa Museum is planning an Annie Bonza retrospective in September and is keen on having some of her earlier designs.

"Annie's garments are something special," says Claudia Orange, director of history and Pacific cultures at Te Papa.

"It's a brilliant coming together of fashion, workmanship and art - the perfect elements for an exhibition and a celebration of Pacific influence and antipodean creativity."

Key garments from Bonza's earlier years as a novice designer for the labels Pour Vous and Chad Bray in the late 50s and early 60s are being sought "They're the kind of garments women are likely to have kept.

"We're hopeful that someone will say 'I've got one of those' tucked away in the back of their wardrobe."

For more information contact Angela Lassig, ph (04) 381 7142 or email angelal@tepapa.govt.nz

Comely corsets

With corsets back in fashion, the designers at Madcat are on a sure thing. They have launched a new label, Puss Puss, which specialises in corsets in a variety of fabrics, from PVC to velvet and satin.

They will also make corsets to order. So you'll never be able to say you have nothing to wear.