item details
Overview
Items relating to the creation, marketing and distribution/sale of the fashion collection. The following text is drawn from items in the file: Starfish’s summer collection 2008-2009 is inspired by the story of my great grandfather - a blend of Asian culture and New Zealand gardens. William Yan-Foon came to New Zealand from China as a young man and worked all his life in market gardens. He was an orphan and rare for his time - he married an English woman. I often wonder what it would have been like for him to in a new country with a culture so different from his own, unable to speak the language. My great auntie tells of seeing my great grandfather as she used to wheel her pram, always in his vegetable garden in Petone. I guess that the garden for him would have been his Garden of Perfect Happiness. Our summer collection embraces that image with hints of bright Asian-inspired colour springing from the “don’t mind me” shades of grey and blue. Prints have a fine watercolour appearance and feature classic garden flowers. This season’s fabrics include timeless rich silks in vibrant shades which be teamed with your range of hard-wearing cottons and linens. Richly coloured hemp adds an exciting addition to our family of natural fibres. Our silhouette is underpinned with a classically elegant 1950’s feel with shaping reverting to a more fitted look with belts gathering soft volume at the waist. Skirts have soft bell and leaner tulip shapes, while our classic shirt features wrap ties for shaping around the waist. Our selection of dresses offers delightful fabrics and prints for all occasions with the straighter silhouettes featuring belts that can be tied underneath the bust, or on the waist or hip, depending on the figure or mood. As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainable design, we have sourced some wonderful new fabrics including silk hemp for our New Dynasty Dress and Top, and organic cottons in our Double Joy suit. Our Grasshopper Tee features a eco-friendly print on organic New Zealand made tee shirting. And we have a beautiful new selection of recycled buttons and buckles. All our garments have been finished beautifully and reflect our underlying philosophy of well-made enduring design.
This fashion collection includes: Hot X Cami, Escapade Cami, Fire Power Pinafore, Honey I’m Home, Bombshell Pant, Premiere ¾ - Miners Blue, Premiere ¾ - Kung Fu, Coolie Dress, Standing Place Jacket and Skirt and Short, Sweet Happiness Shirt, Paddy Pant, Peace and Prosperity Jacket and Pant, Joss Stick Jacket and Skirt, Courtyard Cardy, Bohdi Silk Slip, Double Joy Jacket and Skirt, Remembering Dress and Top, Fan Tan Jacket, Memories Tee, Li Po Jacket and Pant, Haining St Jacket, Lillian Li Dress and Blouse, Long Life Dress, Hao! Hao! Skirt and Pant, Good Fortune Skirt and Dress, Forbidden Frock, New Dynasty Dress and Skirt, Grasshopper Tee, Bohdi Silk Cami and Cardy, Forbidden Frock, Shanghai Shirt, Li Po Pant - Shiny, Sung Silk Top, Far East Frock and Jacket, Seventh Moon Dress, Great Garden, Scarves.
[The file also notes the opening of the newly renovated store at 128 Willis Street]