Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Nicole has navigated the full spectrum of fashion. After studying fashion at Whitecliffe, she honed her tailoring in menswear before shifting to womenswear and production management, gaining hands-on experience with local manufacturing. In 2021, she launched her own label, Oosterom, balancing the demands of a growing family with the ambition of creating clothing that is timeless, wearable, and thoughtfully designed.
Oosterom reflects Nicole’s personal connection to creativity and memory – a nod to her Oma, Pietje van Oosterom, whose meticulously organised craft cupboard first introduced her to fabrics, lace, and the joy of making. Today, Nicole’s approach is simple: each piece is designed to work effortlessly in real life, combining clean silhouettes with subtle detail. From sourcing materials to shaping the brand’s aesthetic, she brings individuality to everything she touches, proving that beautiful clothing and everyday life can coexist seamlessly.
In conversation with Nicole Hadfield
Let’s get up to speed. Tell us a bit about you and your career to date.
Wow, how do I narrow it down? I graduated with a fashion degree from Whitecliffe and landed a design role in menswear straight after graduation, where I honed my tailoring skills and learnt the importance of working one-on-one with customers. I later pivoted into womenswear and worked as a production manager for Ingrid Starnes, building connections within the local manufacturing industry. In 2021, I balanced a costume role in film with growing a family and launching my own fashion label; Oosterom.
What is your earliest memory of fashion?
It would have to be discovering a treasure trove of crafts, fabrics and vintage lace in my Oma’s meticulously organised craft cupboard. My sisters and I were free to explore our creativity whenever we visited for the weekend. Because of this, the label Oosterom pays homage to my Oma, Pietje van Oosterom.
How would you describe your personal style, and what influences it the most?
My style has always been somewhat classic, timeless and effortless. Let’s be honest, I don’t have much time in the mornings to put together an outfit, I’m sure many of my customers are in the same boat. It’s important to me that each Oosterom piece works within an existing wardrobe, keeping things simple and easy to throw on and walk out the door with confidence.
You’re debuting your AW26 collection at Āhua this week. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the collection and what we can expect to see on the runway?
Our AW26 Āhua collection ‘alla prima’ is an extension of the classic Oosterom wardrobe. There’s an exploration into new one-of-one fabrics, sleek silhouettes and our favourite palette of black mixed with earthy browns, ochres and pops of green, reminiscent of a Johannes Vermeer painting from the 1600s. The concept was sparked by a piece of fabric my mother bought me in my twenties with a very distinctive print. You’ll have to wait to see the opening look for everything to fall into place.
You were designing long before Oosterom was born. What motivated you to start your own label?
My kids have always been my ‘why’. I want them to grow up with parents who adore their work and follow their dreams. My four-year-old is just starting to grasp what I do, with constant creativity happening in my workroom. He’s always pulling fabric scraps from our recycling bins and creating things for himself – something I grew up with and remember fondly. Running my own business also gives me the flexibility to be around for school pick-ups, sports activities and sick days. It’s a constant juggle (much easier said than done), but capturing those little moments while they’re young is so important.
Are there any New Zealand designers you gravitate toward or that more people should know about?
New Zealand is full of incredibly talented designers – you just need to know where to look. Āhua is an amazing platform for young designers (much younger than me!) to explore their creativity and put their name on the map. I really wish something like this existed when I graduated. The organisers are such a gift to the fashion community. A few designers I admire are Finn from Fringes – he has talent and drive beyond his years. Dafna Nimkovsky is also one to watch; she’ll be opening the Oosterom show on Friday 20 March, her last show before heading overseas. Winnie Catherine is another young label building real traction. I admire her attention to detail, incredible craftsmanship and strong sense of design aesthetic.
What trends do you think everyone will be wearing this time next year?
I personally try to steer clear of trends – they move too quickly and often drive overconsumption. In a year from now, I hope Oosterom customers are still wearing their favourite pieces they own today. With creative styling, layering and focusing on quality over quantity, we can build timeless wardrobes that hold our sense of personality rather than following what everyone else is doing. It’s all about confidence and comfort, in my opinion.
What do you find to be underrated right now?
A good pair of socks. Underwear is something we all need and continually refresh. Francie Knitwear have just released a selection of delicious socks, including some knee-high numbers you might spot paired with Bronwyn Footwear on the runway. Yum.
Do you have any advice for women wanting to start out in your industry?
Learn from the people around you. Success doesn’t happen overnight – you need to be obsessed with making clothing and truly love the craft to thrive. Every small piece of knowledge and experience adds up. Start small with one product, listen to your customers, and remember that without them you don’t have a business.
Quick-fire questions
The next item on my wardrobe wishlist is… A Georgia Jay bag – a few will actually appear on the runway too. Their new chocolate suede is delicious.
The book currently on my bedside table is… At the moment it’s Hairy Maclary – does that count?
If you could only save one item in your wardrobe, what would it be? I’ll always treasure a classic coat. This season I’m revisiting our Margot Coat from my very first collection. It’s timeless and, this time around, crafted in the most beautiful sculptural black wool.
My favourite place to dine… Let’s be honest, getting out when you have young kids is tricky. My husband and I actually launched a babysitting app today called Village App. It lets you trade points with friends instead of paying cash for childcare, keeping babysitter costs at zero and cutting out all the admin. First on my list is finally making it to Blue Tāmaki.
My next holiday destination…I’d love to hire a campervan and take the kids around the South Island.
My ultimate day off looks like… Taking my kids to the zoo. We often go on a Friday – it’s the perfect way to step away from work and put everything back into perspective.
