Fashion Revolution NZ Shines A Spotlight On Local Makers Alongside NZ Fashion Week 2025

From 25–30 August 2025, Fashion Revolution Aotearoa New Zealand will present Meet the Maker, a bold public campaign running alongside New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) to celebrate and acknowledge the skilled people who bring our local fashion industry to life.

In an industry where garment makers are too often overlooked, Meet the Maker will profile the faces, hands, and stories behind beloved local brands. The campaign will run across digital billboards in Auckland’s CBD, Auckland Central Library and online channels, featuring portraits of makers from participating New Zealand fashion labels.

“This campaign is about visibility,” says Amy Conlon, Assistant Country Coordinator for Fashion Revolution NZ. “When you see the people who cut, sew, and finish your garments, you begin to value the skill, time, and care that goes into every piece. These makers are an essential part of our local fashion ecosystem, yet they rarely get the recognition they deserve.”

The initiative is proudly supported by Whitecliffe College, a leader in fashion, art, design and sustainability education. Their partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a fairer, more transparent, and more sustainable local fashion industry. Many of the maker’s are alumni to Whitecliffe Fashion and Sustainability Design programmes.

"At Whitecliffe, our students start their sustainable fashion design careers with learning that fashion is not just about design – it’s about people. Supporting Meet the Maker is our way of honouring the many skilled hands and ethical hearts behind Aotearoa’s fashion industry. We’re proud to stand alongside this movement, celebrating transparency, craftsmanship, and the future of values-driven fashion," Dr. Fay Amaral, CEO at Whitecliffe.

Alongside celebrating makers, Meet the Maker reinforces Fashion Revolution NZ’s mission to promote local brands and alternatives to fast fashion, encouraging conscious consumption, ethical production, and industry collaboration.

The Meet the Maker campaign is also endorsed by Mindful Fashion. “Buying from a NZ designer supports local jobs, from the creatives, to the makers and businesses that keep our industry thriving”, says Jacinta FitzGerald, Chief Executive at Mindful Fashion NZ.

According to a report prepared by Sapere Research Group for Auckland City Council (2023), 3,106 tonnes of clothing in Auckland alone are wasted before being sold or worn. These wasted items of fashion clothing come from imports.

‘’It’s time to break up with fast fashion and support local brands,” says Conlon.

Key details:

• Campaign dates: 25–30 August 2025
• Where: Digital billboards across Auckland’s CBD, Auckland Central Library and online Instagram @Fash_Rev_NewZealand / Facebook @FashionRevolutionNewZealand / LinkedIn Fashion Revolution New Zealand
• Featuring: Makers from 15 New Zealand fashion brands (Ahipao, Emroce, Jacqueline Anne, Kowtow, Knuefermann, Liz Mitchell, Mandatory, NOM*d, Oosterom, Ovna Ovich, Rory William Docherty, Ruby, Untouched World, and Standard Issue).

Maker quotes:

Ahipao: “I love knowing that in our small team, every garment our customers receive has been carefully crafted by the same set of hands. Working with natural fibres is like working with different temperaments, each colour, each blend responds differently to the machine, the washing, the drying. It feels like discovering each garment’s unique nature and finding the perfect formula to bring out its best. That’s what keeps my curiosity alive in this job.” Sarah McIntyre, Machine Operator and Production Specialist

Emroce: "Vote with your dollar.” Florence Anselmi, Zero Waste Pattern Maker.

Jacqueline Anne: “I take great pride in designing and hand making well-crafted custom made garments that will be kept for generations. For me it’s a personal relationship with fashion and the environment. This is not a trend, this is a responsibility.” Jacqueline Roper, Designer/ Creator/ Patternmaker/ Machinist

Kowtow: “Sometimes we receive 'love notes' from customers expressing their gratitude for their garment being repaired, which shows how a small act of repair can be so meaningful to someone!” Ruby Chappell, Garment Technician

Knuefermann: “I have been a clothing cutter for a long time. Some of my clients I have worked with for many years and have become friends. I get immense pleasure from seeing people wearing New Zealand made clothing that I have been involved in the making of.” Richard Brooks, Cutter

Liz Mitchell: "Working alongside Liz, who is always so positive and passionate about fashion, has helped me grow tremendously. She continually boosts my confidence and truly values my work. I’m deeply honoured and grateful to be part of this journey." Romi Allen, Patternmaking/ Cutting/ Machinist

Mandatory: “I came straight from design school into my dream job. Being part of a collaborative team has taught me so much, but it’s the daily interactions with customers that stay with me – real conversations with people who connect with what we create. It’s a constant reminder of why I love what I do.” Manisha Zarapkar, Workroom Manager.

NOM*d: “The one stand-out garment that I have made for NOM*d would be the bright yellow seam-sealed raincoat with a flower, it was fun and very different. It was great being able to incorporate seam sealing into a fashion garment as I have years of experience in seam sealing waterproof clothing.” Tania Stevens, Workroom Supervisor/ Sample Machinist

Oosterom: “My Oma taught me to use a sewing machine when I was in primary school, she herself was a machinist for the likes of Bendon when she immigrated to New Zealand. I never dreamed a childhood form of play would shape my career path.” Nicole Hadfield, Creative Director/ Patternmaker/ Machinist

Ovna Ovich: “For me it's not what to make but how to make it, which is why patternmaking is the area I love to work in, I revel in the challenge of creating a set of 2D shapes to fit a 3D body, the more complex the better!” Ella Sarjant, CAD Patternmaker

Rory William Docherty: “I’ve loved every one of the pieces I’ve made with Rory but the fur bag series are a special favourite of mine they add a beautiful texture and dimension to a look.” Abigail Brodric, Leather Artisan.

Ruby: “I’m proud to work for a brand where craft meets circular thinking, proving fashion can be both beautiful and responsible.” Jacqueline Tsang, Senior Sample Cutter.

Untouched World: "What I love about my work is being able to step back and admire the final product. Whether I'm sewing together a whole garment, or making a minor repair, you don't get that kind of tangible result with every job and I get a lot of satisfaction from it." Fiona, Workroom Manager.

Standard Issue: "I love my skills as a sewing machinist and giving life to garments by constructing together the vision that has been created in fashionable styles. Also, for people to be satisfied and confident to wear them." Akenesi Dimanamana, Workroom Team Leader

About Fashion Revolution NZ

Fashion Revolution Aotearoa New Zealand is part of the world’s largest fashion activism movement, advocating for a global fashion industry that values people and the planet over profit. Established in 2019, the NZ team is run entirely by volunteers, delivering nationwide campaigns, events, and educational initiatives to inspire citizens, brands, and policymakers to work towards a fairer, safer, and cleaner fashion future.

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