Ms Walker returned to Dunedin yesterday for the first time in 10 years, to launch her new line of fragrances at H&J Smith.
Ms Walker, who shows regularly at New York Fashion Week, said people here knew fashion.
''It's been a part of the city's identity for a long time.''
Dunedin kept up with the country's other fashion centres, like Wellington and Auckland, she said.
Brands like Nom*D and Plume were legendary, she said.
''Dunedin has a real point of view and it's gone past the dark and moody cliche.''
She had not been to Dunedin for a decade, but was in Central Otago during the winter to go snowboarding with her daughter Valentina (7), she said.
Although her work had not been specifically inspired by the region, there would be a snow element to her coming winter collection, ''without giving too much away'', she said.
Ms Walker said she was used to creating a collection, so it was only natural for her to come out with more than one fragrance.
''I make collections, so it just made sense.
''Plus, women don't want to have only one option. They want more than one thing, something different for different occasions.''
Ms Walker said her brand's expansion into fragrances was something she had always wanted to do.
''I always had a point of view about it and we had nothing scheduled and the right people came along at the right time.''
- James Hall
