Showing its label Hallelujah in the Capsule Collections on March 14 would be a way for St Clair Design to showcase what it could do, designer Dallas Cunningham said.
‘‘This is the very first one [iD Dunedin Fashion Show] so it's special. We decided we would like to do it once and have a really great shot at it. [We] just want people to see what we can do.''
Mrs Cunningham, who started making her own clothes at the age of eight, said Hallelujah would feature a selection of clothing on the runway.
‘‘We will be showing five garments and one finale garment. It's quite diverse, from winter coats to evening wear. Our coats, jackets and dresses are our strong points.''
St Clair Design was established more than 14 years ago by Mrs Cunningham and her business partner Lana Neumegen. Both women, who have 60 years' experience in fashion between them, wanted to bring unique, wearable, but creative, women's wear to Dunedin.
Everything made by St Clair Design is only available from its workroom and store at 53 Bond St, something which Mrs Cunningham is proud of.
‘‘If I have a great idea one day it can be on the rack the next day.''
But Mrs Cunningham refuses to take sole credit for her designs and praises her team of seven.
‘‘We work as a team. I certainly couldn't create the new season styles without my clever cutter, my pattern making assistant, the machinists who puzzle the pieces of the garments together to make beautiful clothes or my business partner with her wealth of sales knowledge.''
Mrs Cunningham's advice for buddingdesigners is simple: ‘‘Just always be handson, make lots of things and experiment with fabrics.''
• St Clair Design at 53 Bond St is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
