Fashion Quarterly

In this issue, we looked at ambition through the lens of celebrating the women reshaping fashion, beauty, and wellness in New Zealand. From visionary founders redefining local style to our cover star, Renee Stewart, who is forging her own path in yoga and meditation, these are women who set their own pace, and their own goals. We spotlight ‘The Style Set’, on page 60 — a group of fashion and beauty founders we admire at FQ, each also forging their own path. Their perspectives on ambition are as diverse as their journeys. Take Jasmin Scott, founder and director of Jasmin Sparrow, who embraces risk: “I’ve experienced some huge failures that felt like the end of the world, but those moments taught me resilience and gave me invaluable insights into both…

Willow Handy FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER There are a lot of women of my generation struggling with diversity and economic issues. I have not taken a traditional pathway in my career, so I focus on being an example of an alternative way to achieve success, in the hope that I can show a course for young female, queer, and non-male contemporaries. I’d like to look around in the future and feel that I have contributed to a growing female-centric and diverse creative industry. I’ve been lucky enough to have the support and encouragement of female photographers, which has had a huge impact on my trajectory. It’s my aim to do the same and pay it forward to those around me. Julie Zhu FILMMAKER I feel lucky to be primarily surrounded by women,…

Renee Stewart is a woman on a mission. As the daughter of supermodel Rachel Hunter and musician Rod Stewart, she comes from a modeling and musical dynasty. However, Stewart has built her own career by merging her lifelong passion for dance with a profound dedication to yoga and mindfulness. Whether she’s teaching one-on-one classes, guiding workshops, or hosting transformative retreats, her focus is clear: to empower others through movement and mindfulness. We speak to Stewart about her morning rituals, how movement has been central to her life, and why New Zealand is such a special place to her. Stepping in front of the camera for this shoot was actually really exciting. I loved being on set and creating with an amazing team. We were also in nature with animals, which…

Behind every garment lies a largely hidden world of craftsmanship, labour, and meticulous decision-making — yet too often, its true value is lost in the number on a price tag. A recent conversation with a friend highlighted this disconnect. Frustrated by her search for a wedding guest dress, she bemoaned, “It’s so hard to find a nice, locally designed dress for under $500.” Her words stuck with me. It’s a far too common sentiment, but it also raises a bigger question: What actually goes into the cost of a garment? There’s a misconception that designer fashion is needlessly expensive — but the reality is far more nuanced. From the first sketch to the final stitch, a piece of clothing undergoes a complex process of design, sourcing, and craftsmanship. Beyond the…

After two decades at the helm of Zambesi Dayne Johnston moved to embrace a new challenge — and it’s one stitched with purpose. Now, as Kowtow’s head designer, he’s marrying the world of avant-garde tailoring with a design philosophy rooted in sustainability. With a single fibre — certified Fairtrade organic cotton — and an 18-month lead time, Johnston’s transition is a complete reimagining of how fashion is created, and now his first full collection for Kowtow has just landed — offering a new take on conscious design. Johnston’s journey into fashion was inevitable. “Fashion was everything to me, and I knew from a very young age that it was what I wanted to do,” he shares. Influenced by his mother’s love for sewing, he pursued formal training at Wellington Polytechnic…

Riel Born from a desire for something different, Riel is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based label that offers a slow and considered approach to design. Founded in 2021 by Joelle Rueckert, the brand reworks vintage clothing and deadstock fabrics into unique, versatile pieces, breathing new life into materials otherwise destined for waste. With experience as a sample machinist for brands such as Paris Georgia and Ruby, Rueckert is no stranger to the fashion industry. However, ethical concerns with the traditional fashion model initially deterred her from starting her own label. It wasn’t until Rueckert began experimenting with reworking a few shirts she no longer wore that the concept of Riel was born. “It grew very slowly and organically from there,” Rueckert explains. “It’s been an exploration of making a brand work that…