If it’s hard to survive as a local designer in an age of online shopping and fast-fashion, Kathryn Wilson isn’t showing any signs of slowing down as she opens up her second store in Auckland’s Herne Bay.
The new boutique, which opens its doors today, compliments Wilson’s pre-existing Britomart store and adds to the growing fashion community thriving in the area.
As a resident of Herne Bay, Wilson says the store’s location reaffirms the label’s roots of being a locally designed product with limited edition runs.
And if opening her second store wasn’t enough celebration of her accomplishments, Wilson has also been recognised as one of the most successful graduates to come out of Massey University.
The Distinguished Young Alumni Award is being awarded to Wilson for excellence in her profession, and will be officially presented to the designer next month.
Wilson last year celebrated the first decade of her business, and has grown from selling a mere seven styles of footwear each season to producing 12,000 pairs of shoes every year over her three brands – Kathryn Wilson, Miss Wilson and Little Miss Wilson.
Kathryn Wilson shoes are shipped to over 120 stockists in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.