Ms Cooper was excited about the opportunity to create a winter range of accessories, which would be launched at the end of February, beginning of March.
''It's a big deal for any New Zealand designer to be working with a major retailer. I feel very honoured,'' she said yesterday.
The Handmade in Vietnam range would include hats, gloves, scarves, jewellery, key-rings, evening bags and purses.
Working on that scale was something that was quite new to her and she was ''having to come to grips with it'', she said.
Ms Cooper, who established the Tamsin Cooper brand 10 years ago in Arrowtown, recently closed her Moray Pl retail store to focus on new opportunities.
While it was a little sad to shut the doors, the ''bricks and mortar model'' did not work for her during a changing retail climate. The end of her lease was another factor, she said.
Instead of having a retail presence, it was better for her to invest in her knowledge, online space and do collaborations, she said.
She had loved being part of the ''creative little hub'' in Moray Pl but it was time to focus on new opportunities.
''It's a great step forward into new waters and new challenges,'' she said.
Ms Cooper had been asked to join a space at Salisbury House in Bond St, where various innovative businesses were located.
It was an ''amazing collaborative space'' and it was motivating being around other people and industries.
It was also amazing how much cross-over there was between them, she said.
Ms Cooper said she loved living and working from Dunedin and she remained committed to being part of a vibrant, creative community.
