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Inspirational Women: Barbara Herrick

We speak to Barbara Herrick, an inspirational kiwi woman who was regarded as one of New Zealand’s first successful Fashion Designers in the 1960s.

How does it make you feel to be regarded as being one of this country’s first successful designers?
It makes me feel very good and that I’ve done something worthwhile in the New Zealand fashion world. One of the nicest compliments I received from a client was that my clothes made her feel beautiful. Another from a well-known critic was that I had been consistent over a long period of time.

Can you describe your label Babs Radon, what style of clothing you designed and the market it was for?
Babs Radon was an upmarket label purely designed for special occasions.

What kinds of styles did you most enjoy in the 1960s?
I enjoyed the fact that fashion was at its height and new lines were evolving all the time. New shapes, new lengths, new looks and at the same time there was a classic elegance taking place and understated simplicity of line.

There isn't a lot of information about the history of New Zealand fashion available to the public, especially about designers before the 1980s. How does that make you feel - and can you enlighten us?
It’s a shame that there is so little information about New Zealand fashion from those early years because there were so many beautiful clothes designed and made here at that time. I remember just after the Second World War, Queen Street in Auckland had so many lovely salons with great clothes and designers. Trilby Yates and Bobby Angus were leading lights of that time.

In the 50s you worked for Emma Knuckey for a time... can you tell us about her and working with her?
Yes I did work for Emma Knuckey, actually I worked from home because her workroom was small. I would see her once a week when I would collect fabric and some sketches. She left it to me to do my designs as she felt it was good to have a different style in her salon. Her styling was very her - the way she dressed was clean lines - lovely fabrics and her suits very often softened with a large floppy tie or bow. She had a great sense of style and colour coordination. A very distinctive style.

Who/what inspired your designs?
My inspirations came mainly from Hubert de Givenchy the designer who dressed Audrey Hepburn. In the 60s the influence of Jackie Kennedy’s dressing was very strong, the elegant simple lines she wore where less-was-more was good for fashion.

Tell us about being chosen to enter the Wool Board competition.
Be

ing chosen to enter the Wool Board competition in itself was
an honour. You had to be invited to enter by the Wool Board. They would come to see your winter range and if they chose some garments from it they would mark them inside with an indelible pen so that when the time came for you to send it to Wellington for the trial judging, the garment couldn’t be switched (so that you could make a better one). It had to be the original. That year we were fortunate to win Supreme Award and the Couture Cocktail Dress section. It was also nice that that was the year that the Queen was going to present the award. It was an amazing day with a great fashion parade put on for the Queen visiting VIPs.

What about the Gown of the Year Award.
The first Gown of the Year was in the late 50s. Most of the designers in New Zealand entered and Babs Radon came fourth. That dress is now held by the Napier Museum.

What do think of contemporary fashion today? Do you have any favourite designers?
My favourite overseas designers are Armani and Valentino and local girl who is established in Australia - Collette Dinnegan. I think some of the contemporary fashion today is just fancy dress.

Any advice to nzgirls starting their own labels or getting into the industry?
I think today it is much harder starting your own label. There is a lot more competition but if you have the passion and get as much experience in the construction of garments in a good firm where the standards are good you will go a long way.

Sarah

Last updated: 30/04/2008

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