Designer: Kirsha Whitcher
Based: Hastings

Since graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion, Kirsha Whitcher has been building a strong fashion design career with an innovative and directional focus. Her first design project was working for new label 'Black' in Auckland. One year later, Whitcher was headhunted by international label Mooks Clothing Company as the women's wear designer. Here she developed ranges that sold successfully in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States of America.Designer: Kirsha Whitcher
Based: Hastings

Since graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion, Kirsha Whitcher has been building a strong fashion design career with an innovative and directional focus. Her first design project was working for new label 'Black' in Auckland. One year later, Whitcher was headhunted by international label Mooks Clothing Company as the women's wear designer. Here she developed ranges that sold successfully in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States of America.In 2001, Whitcher moved back to her home in the Hawke's Bay to raise her young family while still freelancing for Mooks Clothing Company until 2003. Subsequently, she became involved in the development and establishment of M.I.A Department Store with her cousins Melaina Newport and Rakai Karaitiana.

Salasai has been Whitcher's personal project since 2005. Her collections are reminiscent of her teenage years in the 1980's and her love of vintage clothing. Combining street wear comfort and directional high fashion is the core of this range, mixing vintage school-uniform design with modern design, colour and fabrics. The results are wool/metal pinafores, tailored denim, sweat-buttoned dresses, vintage-inspired velvet jackets and silk dresses.

Whitcher's vision of Salasai is to keep the range tight and directional. Signature pieces will become mainstay, while maintaining design research and innovation as key to developing new ideas.

Photo by Michael Ng/Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2008

21/09/08