New Zealand’s fashion industry is always on the ball, keeping up with the latest fashion trends around the world. But perhaps our eyes have been averted by the catwalk for too long and we’ve forgotten the important people behind the scenes.
Myken & Dame Pieter Stewart
Thankfully, the Queen’s Birthday Honours reminded us this week by making fashion matriarch Pieter Stewart a dame and Wellington designer Robyn Mathieson a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Dame Pieter single-handedly founded New Zealand Fashion Week 12 years ago and nurtured it to what it is today – an event highly regarded in the local and international arenas.
Through thick and thin, the Cantabrian persevered – a family scandal, Christchurch earthquakes and lack of funding which almost saw us see the last of NZFW last year.
And before that, she spent more than 10 years working in the fashion industry – from modelling, to starting her own modelling agency, working as associate editor for Fashion Quarterly and producing fashion shows for TV.
With almost a lifetime dedicated to the fashion industry, the honour seems well overdue – but hey, better late than never as the saying goes.
Dame Pieter’s family, too, shows remarkable dedication to the fashion business. Daughters Erin and Myken Stewart have also helped out in fashion weeks past with Myken taking on a key role as brand and sponsorship manager in recent years.
Together, Robyn and Dame Pieter join NZ’s hallowed list of fashion figures honoured in the past:
Pieter Ane Stewart, DNZM For services to fashion and the community 2012
Robyn Mathieson, MNZM For services to fashion 2012
Kevin Percy Berkahn, MNZM For services to fashion and the community 2010
Paula Ann RYAN, MNZM For services to fashion 2009
Elisabeth FINDLAY, ONZM For services to business and fashion 2008
Neville John FINDLAY, ONZM For services to business and fashion 2008
Annah Rae STRETTON, MNZM For services to business, fashion and the community 2008
Marilyn Claire SAINTY, MNZM For services to the fashion industry 2006
Trelise Pamela COOPER, MNZM For services to the fashion industry 2004
Caroline Sarah Ann SILLS, MNZM For services to the fashion industry 2005
Elizabeth Anne (Liz) MITCHELL, MNZM For services to the fashion industry 2005
Karen WALKER, MNZM For services to the fashion industry NY2004
Denise Ann L'ESTRANGE-CORBET, MNZM For services to fashion design 2002
ONZM: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
MNZM: Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
(Research – Julie Roulston)
– Natalie Tan