Nick and Nevada Leckie from Okewa. Image by Derek Henderson.
Nick and Nevada Leckie created rainwear brand Okewa to design the perfect raincoats which suit their wardrobes and the temperamental climate of their home city, Wellington. Their elegant coats are cut from breathable, waterproof fabrics that are woven in Bluesign-approved Japanese and Korean mills and produced in small runs in New Zealand. As it turns out the couple’s idea of the perfect raincoat is lots of other people’s ideal coat too and their clean, practical designs have rapidly grown in popularity since the brand was launched in 2014. Their coats are also ideal for travelling and Okewa currently has a pop-up shop at Wellington Airport until May 14th.
We caught up with Nevada to find out more about their brand, what inspires them and what you would never catch her wearing!
Tell us about your latest collection?
A few new pieces in our collection were inspired by a trip we took to Japan late last year. We were so enamoured with Tokyo’s calm, orderly and beautiful manner, so this was definitely a starting point. We work with a collection of rolling products to just slow the cycle down a bit, so it’s very much about designing a coat that will be relevant for the next 10-20 years.
What made you become a designer?
Having my own brand wasn’t something I thought I would be doing at all actually, but emerged out of a gap in my wardrobe that I couldn’t find anywhere else. That then evolved into Okewa, which is demanding so much more of me than just designing. We quickly learned pure design is only a tiny part of the equation.
What inspires you?
Travel, art, colour, water.
Coats from Okewa’s current range.
Describe your personal style and how it influences your collections?
My personal style is quite oversized and silhouette-based. I love stiffer fabrics like wools, cottons and linens rather than silks or lightweight fabrics. I’m also working on adding a bit more colour into my wardrobe, which is also coming through in the collection. This season we’ve introduced a new softly-sanded plum fabric and a
heavier-weight dark camel.
What is your all-time favourite purchase?
A pleated men’s Issey Miyake shirt that Nick found in an op shop, that has since found it’s way into my wardrobe. My Sherie Muijs shirts are an all-time favourite too!
What wardrobe item should every woman invest in?
Well, I’d say an investment into an Okewa coat! Especially the Birmingham Trench will definitely last the test of time, lightweight enough for most weather, completely waterproof and perfect for traveling. It’s in an inky herringbone weave.
Coats from Okewa’s current range.
Do you have a style rule you always obey?
It’s pretty simple but I really like to work around similar tones.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Just a constant evolution and seeing growth of the brand is pretty exciting.
What can’t you live without?
Quite seriously my Okewa coat. We launched this to fulfil our own needs and it’s definitely filled that gap in the wardrobe. We walk everywhere in Wellington so it’s such a necessity.
Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
Anything showerproof.
Images supplied.