With a contemporary take on ceremonial wear Brooke Tyson’s designs are a refreshing look for brides, and lovers of beautiful clothes alike. The self-taught designer started a fashion collection in 2008 just after her daughter was born, and ended up wholesaling throughout New Zealand and dressing musicians for music videos. In 2017 she released a bridal collection with the intention to enter the industry in a different way. 

“I really didn’t want to do it if it wasn’t fashion bridal, and pieces that I really loved. The great thing about it is that I get to use fabrics that I probably couldn’t afford to do in a fashion collection. Like I use really amazing pieces with big bold silhouettes,” she says. 

However Brooke’s approach is that these dresses are not simply a one-wear item in your wardrobe. Repurposing and re-wearing these amazing pieces is an important aspect of her design and Brooke works with each bride to see if she can alter their wedding dress so it can be worn again. 

“With brides I either offer a service where it’s part of the design that can be worn again, or I’ll remake it for them, or dye it for them so it’s not a white dress.”

Her collections, known for their bold silhouettes, may provide a challenge to individuals when it comes to washing, but Brooke says there are lots of easy ways to look after them. 

“It can look a little scary because some of the pieces are quite structural and there are a lot of frills and flounces, but generally some of the pieces can go through wash cycles,” she says. “If it’s a Miele washing machine they have a delicate cycle which can be used in place of drycleaning so our silk bias cut slips can go through that really well.” 

It’s clear you need to put a bit more time into looking after those more special pieces. Other washing tips Brooke mentions are storing precious items in garment bags, drying items flat (and not weighted down) and making sure you always store them in non-damp areas. 

The designer is also attempting to change how we purchase our clothing, and with a massive mending pile at home it’s clear she practices what she preaches. 

“It takes a little more time but it’s worth it,” she says of mending her clothes. 

And with her new collection coming out soon (where she’s really pushing the boundaries of silhouettes, pleating and circular design) she will be taking the focus off having clothing ‘seasons’.

“We’ll be encouraging people to wear our last collection with our new one, so it won’t be the traditional spring/summer/winter collection. The collection can be worn right through the year and really encouraged to be worn for years and years to come. 

Here at Fashion Quarterly, we can’t wait. 

FQ’s managing editor Sarah Murray talks to Brooke Tyson about looking after delicate fabrics at home, and how to make sure your clothes last years and years. Watch the video to discover more.