Putting on the show also meant she could talk to prospective buyers and show them detailing on garments, she said from Auckland yesterday.
While she had attended many fashion weeks, she had never put on a catwalk show, but had been told by others who had that they could cost up to $50,000.
"It depends on lots of things - where you show and what you do. It's a whole performance, not just showing designs."
Instead, she was part of the "real side of fashion week", showing privately to buyers, which was what everybody did, she said.
"Whether or not you have a show, you still have to show privately."
Buyers needed to see garments up close and choose fabrics and colours, and the reaction was instant, she said.
Despite her expectations that buyers might be cautious at this year's event, they were surprisingly buoyant about the market, she said.
"I've been quietly surprised. I expected them to be a bit down, but they seem reasonably happy and seem to be quite positive and upbeat."
Her designs for next winter, featuring Peter Pan collars and double-breasted coats in colours such as rose-pink, cornflower-blue and silver-grey with lots of detailed stitching, had attracted good response from buyers, she said.
Her more conservative designs this year had also proved popular.
"Last year, I designed more 'out there' catwalk-style pieces. This year, I spent my time on more commercial lines. They're safer, not as out there as last season's and, hopefully, it's paid off," she said.
"People seem to like it and that's always good."
