Announcing Claire Bloom, Queenstown fashion label
Claire Bloom with models in Queenstown yesterday during the launch of her fashion label Claire Bloom. Photo credit:
Karen Knighton.
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October 20, 2006: A new range of clothing for women from a new Queenstown based designer was launched today. The claire
bloom label brings timeless, feminine designs to the New Zealand fashion mix.
The designer behind claire bloom is Claire Brinsley, originally from Wales and resident in Queenstown for the past 17
years.
The collection is the first for Claire and comprises 35 different pieces for summer. Her sample range for Winter 2007
has also just been completed. Launched at Decode, a clothing store specializing in Wakatipu and Otago designed fashion,
the claire bloom range received an enthusiastic reception.
“claire bloom designs stand out as fresh, classic and feminine, even amongst the rich range stocked in our store.
Claire’s designs reflect her; she has her own original influence and complements what we do here brilliantly. I think
we’ll see her fly,” said Decode owner Maree Cross.
Claire describes her designs as quietly detailed and holding a timeless appeal.
“I’m thrilled with my first range and feel confident that my clothing will appeal to all women who appreciate well cut
garments, clothes that make them feel special. My styles have been designed with women of all sizes in mind. I have had
the great support of Kay Turner, my pattern maker – she worked for Jane Daniels for many years and is an absolute
perfectionist.”
Claire is fully aware of the highly competitive nature of the fashion industry but believes her designs have a point of
difference and will find a niche in the market.
“I have always loved feminine styles that have an edge, a difference in terms of detailing or some particularly eye
catching fabric. It’s this twist that I aim for in my designs and that I believe will appeal to the market.”
Claire plans to take the summer and winter ranges on the road to introduce her label and herself to Southern fashion
outlets.
“I’m looking forward to getting out on the road, meeting store owners, presenting myself and my range. I’m confident
people will love many of my pieces and want to add them to their stock. But at the end of the day the most rewarding
part of all of my hard work will be to see someone looking beautiful in claire bloom!”
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About Claire Brinsley Resident in Queenstown for the past 17 years Claire is married with two young children. Her
fashion and style sense, inherent since early childhood, has been honed by working with top pattern maker Kay Turner
(Jane Daniels), experienced and professional cmts and fabric wholesalers.
Claire has a background in marketing and is a co-owner of The Dairy, a luxury private hotel in central Queenstown. When
The Dairy was purchased it was a small luxury Bed and Breakfast property. Claire was responsible for overseeing an
expansion, redecoration and complete refurbishment of the property to deliver the elegant and contemporary accommodation
The Dairy is now known for.
For many years, Claire has dreamed of producing her own fashion label, having designed and made many of her own clothes
for most of her life. She has now brought that dream to fruition.
About Decode Queenstown is literally blooming as a fashion centre according to Maree Cross of Decode. She describes her
store as ‘fitting the niche between street/skate and high fashion’.
Decode reflects the ‘extraordinary design talent pulsing throughout the country and in particular the Wakatipu and Otago
regions.’
Labels stocked by Decode include local Wakatipu labels Firefly (Lisa Payne), Smith and Western (Francesca King), Pest
Control (Dan Kelly) Jane Sutherland, Siberia, Nikki Mason, Made @ Home and Nicola Martin. It also stocks well
established New Zealand designers such as Chalky Digits and Miranda Brown.
ENDS