I had the pleasure of catching up with Sara Munro, Company of Strangers founder and director after their fantastic show on Tuesday at New Zealand Fashion Week 2017.
Company of Strangers is proudly 100% NZ made and has, over the last nine years gained a steady ground swell of dedicated fans. Hailing from the mighty Dunedin, Sara says “It’s the perfect creative incubator tucked away from the hustle and bustle which allows us to grow without too much disruption or outside influence. We start a collection thinking what do we want to wear, what’s missing in our wardrobes!”
Second off the ranks on Day 2 of NZFW, Company of Strangers set a decadent and moody theme for their ‘Revenge’ collection with plum and forest green tones paired with soft pastels. The palette danced between masculine and feminine, a vibe that is carried through into their designs, textures and fabrics. Bold and beautiful the runway was full of soft silks, sheer chiffons and lacy bralettes next to pinstripes, dark leather, velvet and wool.
Company of Strangers effortlessly combine luxury fabrics with experimental cuts, reflecting modern simplicity with a romantic edge. Playing with slip button closures and multiple drawcord casings the shapes were unique and offer the wearer various ways of personalising their garment, it is easy to see why they have earned themselves such a cult following
“Gone are the days when it was essential to base yourself in a certain area, everything now arrives in a package at your doorstep. Our customers could be anywhere in the world, so it’s more important than ever to have a logistics partner, plus we constantly have fabric samples coming in from our suppliers that are based around the country including our jewellery manufacturer that’s based in Melbourne. We place a huge amount of trust in our deliveries, NZ Post is the obvious choice, they are literally the best partner, in fact, this fashion show wouldn’t have gone ahead without them.“
I’m also utterly obsessed with their jewellery, with a vintage undertone of old school glamor their pieces are fresh and edgey. I shot in about four of their rings and almost went home in them! Woops!!
“There’s so much to think about when you’re pulling together a runway show, the models, the music, the make up, the shoes,the jewellery, the handbags. There are so many variables, it’s a huge comfort knowing everything will arrive on time. It means I can focus on putting on a great show!”
Amber xx
Photography by Robyn Wilson
