| WHYWHO... what, where, when? |
| Written by Sacha Young | ||||
| Tuesday, 12 April 2011 09:46 | ||||
The Gisbourne based label have generated a lot of attention from their delicate footwear designs over the past year. Sisters, CATE KING and SARAH BUSBY are the brainchild behind the label, thank goodness the girls didn't stick with their seven-year-old-dreams. The bush-adventurer-industry and librarian community don't deserve the talented twosome! You will also learn that sometimes it does just take someone slapping you in the face to realise that life is too short to talk and not walk. You gotta talk the talk and walk the walk, people!! Now we gift to you, a beautiful profile on the lovely ladies themselves... COUP DE MAIN: Can you pinpoint a moment in time when you realised you wanted to pursue a career in designing shoes? WHYWHO: After going into countless retail stores over the years and never being able to find our ‘dream’ pair of shoes - which encompasses edginess, practicality, good quality leathers and above all, not high heels! CDM: What is the background of 'whywho'? WHYWHO: We are two small-town Tokomaru Bay, East-coast sisters who have always had the dream of starting our own business together from the age of 5. Cate has done a Bachelor in Textile and Fashion design, Sarah has done a boutique Shoe-making course in Sydney and is currently studying Business Management. We are constantly inspired by our unique and idyllic lifestyle, vintage footwear and past fashion eras.
CDM: Who or what influences your designs? WHYWHO: Our upbringing and environment we live in, old school library textile and fashion books, and current affairs. CDM: Can you tell us a bit about your creative process? WHYWHO: We both work together on designs by collecting imagery, leathers, trimmings and interesting objects that inspire us. Then we just draw and play on the computer to turning out ideas into actual shoe designs that can be interpreted in to real samples. CDM: Can you tell us a bit about your up 'n coming collection? WHYWHO: 'PIONEERS', practicality and vintage design provides the inspiration behind the latest collection from New Zealand footwear label Whywho. The collection, entitled ‘Thee Forgotten Lovers’, is inspired by an old I. Vickers poem about a rugged lumberjack, who despite being pursued by many women in his village, was more interested in trees and toil than being the object of their affections. Each style is fittingly named after the lover that inspired it, from the sensible seamstress, the classy heiress to the sassy temptress; the designs evoke the sensibilities of a pioneer way of life. CDM: What has been your career highlight to date? WHYWHO: Getting our first stockist! That was when we realised people might actually like our footwear. CDM: Which design of yours are you most proud of? WHYWHO: The ‘Adulteress’ Wooden Clog, ‘Proprieties’ Boot, ’Tip Toed Tailor’ Boot and 'Lady Muck’ shoe
CDM: What did you want to be when you were seven-years-old? CATE KING: A librarian. SARAH BUSBY: A bush adventurer. CDM: Can you remember the most expensive item you've bought? SARAH BUSBY: A pair of Italian Leather Boots when I was 18. CATE KING: To be honest I can't remember... I worked in retail for ages and got great discounts. CDM: Who would be at the top of your 'best-dressed' list? SARAH BUSBY: Maggie Gallenhall. CATE KING: Chloe Sevigny. CDM: ...'worse dressed'? WHYWHO: Hollywood actors that have to have their own personal stylists!! CDM: If you could bring one item back, what would it be? WHYWHO: Hmmm, anything kinda goes these days but maybe... woolen vests, like the ones we wore as children. CDM: What's the best advice you've ever been given? SARAH BUSBY: From Cate's Husband Mike, he got sick of us just talking about starting a business and never actually doing it. So one day he said "you girls need to stop talking about it and just DO IT, life’s too short”. CDM: What is one thing you can't live without? WHYWHO: Each other. CDM: When you imagine a 'whywho' girl, what are they wearing and how are they styled? WHYWHO: They can effortlessly put together an awesome, eclectic yet uncomplicated outfit. She’s not a label basher. She is confident, natural with her own unique style and other girls are inspired by her.
CDM: Have you got any fashion tips for our Coup De Main readers? WHYWHO: Wear clothes that flatter your figure. Mutton dressed like lamb is never a good look, mix op-shop with expensive, when in doubt wear flats, lipstick always brightens up a dull face... and last but not least, act confident in whatever you wear! CDM: Finish this sentence: Fashion is... in the eye of the beholder, be unique. HEART LISTENING: Phoenix Foundation, The National, House of Shem ‘Island Vibration’, PJ Harvey ‘Let England Shake’, The xx. HEART WATCHING: River Cottage. HEART READING: Cook books, good blogs like 'Always, Sometimes, Anytime' and the Sunday Star Times. HEART OF THE WEEK: Hot Lemon and Honey drink Check out more of whywho, as well as their online store HERE! www.whywho.co.nz |
