Where there's a wool! CLAIRE'S TOP COATS
New Zealand Woman's Weekly|November 30, 2020
GROWING UP ON A FARM, CLAIRE WILLIAMSON DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR NZ WOOL. NOW THE 30-YEAR-OLD TE MIRO, CAMBRIDGE, RESIDENT HAS HER OWN COAT LABEL, VELMA & BEVERLEY
Leena Tailor
Where there's a wool! CLAIRE'S TOP COATS

My whole life I thought, ‘Don’t buy this because it doesn’t go with that’, but it actually doesn’t matter. One time I wore three colours – hot pink, orange and yellow – and went, ‘Today I’m dressed as a sunset.’ Everyone laughed, but I was like, ‘You’re going to remember it, aren’t you? How that girl turned up dressed like a sunset!’

Starting a fashion label was far from my mind growing up on my parents’ small farm in Kinohaku. I fell in love with animals early on and we all mucked in as a family. I reared a lamb every year and was feeding cattle by the time I was 10. My first career choice was a vet, but I sucked at science, so did a sports degree and an arts degree. I then managed a squash and tennis club in Cambridge before becoming a mortgage broker, which I still do today alongside Velma & Beverley.

During my teens, I helped my mum Robyn with a project about the challenges in the New Zealand wool industry and as I got older, I realised someone needed to take the bull by the horns and set up a consumer-driven product with awesome ethical and rural-based values.

I wanted to make a beautiful product from New Zealand wool. I also wanted to make New Zealand wool cool again. It was big until the eighties, then synthetic took over.

This story is from the November 30, 2020 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 30, 2020 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND WOMAN'S WEEKLYView All
The perfect GETAWAY
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

The perfect GETAWAY

From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Message in a BOTTLE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Message in a BOTTLE

Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Empowered & thriving!  PERFECT AT ANY AGE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE

Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE

From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT

The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD

After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART

After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро

It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural

time-read
4 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART

The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB

The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024