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Overview
This white silk, full length caftan with three quarter sleeves and a Chinese collar is by the Christchurch designer Fanny Buss (1910-1986). The dress features a Polynesian-inspired placement or engineered print in grey, brown and goldy-orange and is reminiscent of a puletasi. The print gives the illusion of a long line top and a skirt. The later features bands of pattern akin to tapa cloth design.
Fanny Buss was a well-known Christchurch fabric artist, textile and fashion designer. Her clothes were sold in a number of shops throughout New Zealand from the 1960s through to the early 1980s. Buss was noted for her block-printed textiles. While Buss did not slavishly copy Maori or Pacific patterns, many of her in designs reflect their influence.
Anneke Borren purchased this dress in Auckland for her mother, Helinthe Borren (d. 2007) to wear for her concerts. Helinthe, who performed as Lind Borren, was a foundation member of the Waikanae Music Society, and played violin and viola. Anneke recalls, that with her white hair, she looked very beautiful in the dress.