For the second successive year, Jane Sutherland has been selected for the iD Dunedin Fashion show, where outfits from her latest collection promise to once again display her distinctive design individuality. Jude Hathaway reports.
Underpinning creativity is individuality.
Take, for instance, Kingston-based fashion designer Jane Sutherland, who will be sending pieces from her latest winter collection down the catwalk at the two iD Dunedin Fashion Shows next Friday and Saturday nights.
Who would think of opening a fashion store in the small settlement of Kingston at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu? She did.
Who would design their signature logo around a passion for medieval armour, swords and daggers? She did.
And who would make their design studio and workroom in a tunnel house? She did.
The great thing is that Mr So and So, the little fashion shop Jane and her business partner Terzann Elliot established, is doing well since it opened two years ago.
Its success could well be gauged by the fact that it recently shifted from its original tiny premises to the spacious Kingston service station and garage next door.
This could also be perceived as a radical move.
She explains: "My partner Duane Hibbs and I own the service station and garage and we lease out the workshop.
Because the pumps are a self-service operation, the reception area at the station is no longer required, so we decided to make good use of the space."
The couple moved to Kingston 11 years ago.
By that time she was establishing herself as a jeweller, having trained in Dunedin at Fluxus gallery under the talented direction of the late Georg Beer.
Her subsequent success with jewellery included experimenting with metal on T-shirts.
Fashion-store owners she was supplying loved the concept and about six years ago, spurred on by their response, she began developing fashion garments and accessories while continuing to produce jewellery.
By this time she had set up a design studio in the couple's tunnel house.
It provided the space required but proved less than ideal in other ways.
"It's a hothouse on warm days and like living in an igloo in winter," Jane remarks, adding that plans for a new studio are on the drawing board for this year (perhaps providing light at the end of the tunnel).
But fluctuating temperatures in her studio have not affected her creativity and through an exciting and original take on fashion, she has built a strong client base around New Zealand.
She supplies 16 fashion outlets as well as Mr So and So, while keeping machinists in Invercargill and Edendale busy completing seasonal ranges.
Neither is the comparative isolation of Kingston a problem.
She simply gets on with it.
Once sewn, the garments go back to Kingston where she completes a quality-control check on each before despatching orders to retail stores around the country.
"It does get a bit busy at times," she admits.
Last year a new dynamic entered the Hibbs/Sutherland household with the arrival of their son, Victor, just three weeks after last year's iD Dunedin Fashion Show.
"We're lucky to have both sets of grandparents close to be able to take him when necessary," Jane says.
Terzann and Jane take turns in the shop.
An international model, stylist and photographer who also produces a small range of garments under her Mr Knuckles brand, Terzann returned to her parents' home in Kingston after nine years' modelling in Paris, London and Sydney and managing Zambesi's flagship store in Auckland.
Between them the two women provide an overload of design talent in the small settlement.
The inspiration for Jane's winter 2010 range, which will be seen in Dunedin, was a browse through a friend's notes on classical music masters of the 17th century, including Beethoven and Mozart.
Individual collars and frilled cravats are worn with waistcoats, tail jackets, overcoats and luxurious wool skirts with removable pleats.
Metal, in the form of watch chains, will add that special Jane Sutherland stamp.
All carry the Jane Sutherland label with the "T" in the shape of a dagger.
"The show helped to raise my profile last year and it's exciting to be back," she says.
But afterwards the lady from the lake will be equally happy about heading home to Kingston and her world - tunnel house and all.
iD: some of what's on
Tuesday, March 9
7.15pm Fashion: Back to the Future - Presbyterian Support Otago event will travel through time and fashion. Proceeds to Family Works services.
Venue: Fever Club, 140 George St.
For inquiries phone 471-8249.
Wednesday, March 10
12 noon-12.45pm Followers of Fashion Tour - Vintage collections and latest fashion purchases at Dunedin City Library, including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Burda.
To book phone 474-3690 or email library@dcc.govt.nz
5pm Gallery De Novo: Fashioned Art Opening - Artwork from fashion designers with a link to iD Fashion Week, 101 Stuart St, Dunedin.
5.30pm Starlight Shopping - Shops in Dunedin open to showcase winter collections.
Thursday, March 11
12 noon-12.45pm Followers of Fashion Tour - Dunedin City Library.
8pm iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards - Hosted by TV3's Samantha Hayes at the Edgar Centre. Doors open 7pm.
Friday, March 12
11am-12 noon Public Lecture - "Zandra Rhodes: A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles" Fashion designer Zandra Rhodes speaks about her life and experiences in the fashion industry.
Venue: Otago Museum. Gold coin donation.
8pm iD Dunedin Fashion Show - Hosted by Carol Hirschfeld at the Dunedin Railway Station.
Doors open at 6.30pm, show starts at 8pm
Saturday, March 13
11am-11.45am Public Lecture - Andrew Logan, British sculptor/jeweller and personality, will talk about his approach to art, fashion and life.
Free entry. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Octagon.
8pm iD Dunedin Fashion Show - Hosted by John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld at the Dunedin Railway Station. Doors open at 6.30pm.
