Dance collection, Winter 2005

Doris de Pont is a New Zealand fashion designer known for her quirky designs and unique use of prints.

New Zealand born but of Dutch descent, de Pont lived in the Netherlands between 1977 and 1984, where she designed clothing as part of a Women’s Fashion Collective in The Hague. On returning to New Zealand in 1985, de Pont opened a retail store in Auckland, from which she sold her eponymous label. From 1989 to 1994, de Pont worked as a freelance designer. During this time she began working with specialist textile designers, resulting in commissions including cabin crew uniforms for Niue Airlines and uniforms for the New Zealand team to the1993 Gay Games in New York. De Pont won several national fashion awards during this period.

In 1994 de Pont collaborated with textile designer Adrienne Foote to create DNA Clothing. DNA was internationally recognised and enjoyed successful shows at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week and L’Oreal New Zealand Fashion Week in the early 2000s. At New Zealand Fashion Week in 2003 de Pont relaunched under the Doris de Pont label.

The 'Dance' collection of Winter 2005 was designed in collaboration with the artist Linga Krishnasamy, whose work was adapted to create signature textile prints for the collection.