A new collection, a new collab and a new store – there’s no slowing down for Kate Sylvester. She tells Cityscape that staying true to her vision is key to her brand’s longevity.

What inspires your designs? My collections always tell a story. I look to books, art, films, music – all the things I love.

What is your favourite collection of all time? It’s hard to choose a favourite, it’s like choosing your favourite child. Tartt Winter 2015 comes to mind, especially the show we did at New Zealand Fashion Week, where the pages of books fell like confetti from the sky.

How would you describe the Kate Sylvester SS19 collection? Kraftwork honours the craft of fashion. The signature prints in the collection evolved from a personal tapestry project of mine and I incorporated beautiful craft techniques throughout the collection, including blanket stitching, cross stitch and intarsia.

How has your brand evolved since its inception? A lot has changed in the 26 years we’ve been in business, but I think our ability to evolve without compromising our aesthetic and brand values is integral to our longevity.

How do you ensure you stay on-trend in a changing fashion world? I’m more focused on style than following fashion. I love that our pieces transcend trends and I love seeing women wearing a piece that’s five, 10 or even 15 years old. That’s such a great part of my job.

Who would you love to do a collab with? This year I had the exciting opportunity to collaborate with Te Papa and realised a number of Frances Hodgkins’ textile designs as finished prints to create my collection Frances. It was an incredible privilege and an incredibly exciting project to work on.

Where do you think fashion will go next year? I hope that sustainability will continue to grow as part of the fashion conversation. Sustainability is very important to Kate Sylvester.

Tell us about what you are working on at the moment? In August we launched Kate Sylvester Reloved, an online marketplace where our customers can on-sell their pre-loved Kate Sylvester garments. I believe in the integrity and longevity of my product and am committed to stopping my garments ending up in landfill or at the back of people’s closets. I’m really excited to hear some of the stories of our customers’ preloved KS garments.

Describe the Kate Sylvester woman? She is intelligent and creative – her own person. I design for myself and my friends. What is your one essential fashion piece? A tailored suit.

What is your favourite lipstick brand or shade? YSL does the perfect red.

What made you decide to open a store in Christchurch’s CBD? There is so much excitement happening in Christchurch city right now and we can’t wait to be part of it.

What are your must-haves from the SS19 collection? Our intarsia knit Winnie jumper stitched with big floral roses. Our polka dot Maeve dress – I just love this shape – and our Kraft T-shirt printed with a pixelated world from the videogame Minecraft.

What are three essential things in your handbag? Red lipstick, my phone and a pencil.

What are you listening to at the moment? Purple Pilgrims, beautiful ethereal music made in New Zealand.

What’s your favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Read, read and read some more. My last book was Richard Powers’ The Overstory.

What’s your go-to spot in Christchurch? I love Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens.

Who is your favourite fashion icon? The irreverent Coco Chanel.

Style is… whatever makes you feel good.

Kate's top 5 for SS19: (Photography by Scott Hardy)

1. Winnie jumper
2. Nan dress and Bee bag
3. Tobacco suit – Lynne jacket and Lorna trouser
4. Conor dress
5. Kraft T-shirt

katesylvester.com