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It was Emma Knuckey’s dream to be a fashion designer. Despite the obstacles of 1930s New Zealand life and the boundaries her gender created, she was determined to follow her passion.
Convinced of her talent, she packed her bags (and her husband) and travelled to London where she perfected her craft. Upon her return she set up her own boutique on the corner of Elliot and Darby St, bringing with her a high level of fashion consciousness.
She continued to have a strong awareness and interest in British and international fashion, and imported much of her fabric from Europe. She quickly gained a reputation for beautifully cut, feminine clothing, with flowing lines and high quality fabric – very much in line with the style of European post-war women’s fashion.
Emma Knuckey retailed from her Auckland Boutique for the best part of a decade from the mid 50s and supplied many of the large department stores in New Zealand with exclusive designs in suits and gowns.
She’s just one of a number of enterprising women who decided that despite this country’s isolation Kiwi women could lead the world in fashion. And, along with her contemporaries, she did it in a time when women were not represented in business… in fact they couldn’t even sign their own cheques.
It’s on their backs that our fashion industry today stands. Creative. Passionate. Able to take on the world.
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