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It's been a little while since we last caught up with you, so let’s get up to speed! Could you share a few highlights — both professional and personal — from the last few years?
This year has been filled with a blend of anxiety and excitement. Seeing my children grow has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am constantly learning from them. Professionally, I always pour my heart into everything I do. Sauce is always an essence of this chaotic beauty, underlining hope and a mix of things that stirs our collective souls and thoughts from beauty to arts to creativity. A testament to our journey and a reflection of our joys and heartaches.
In your seven years of publishing Sauce, you’ve continued to drive forward conversations around diversity, inclusivity and representation, and championed those very same pillars with the talent you’ve worked with — even establishing Sauce’s very own creative studio to platform said talent. How have you seen Sauce’s impact manifest in both the mediascape and among your readership?
Sauce was launched at a time when representation in fashion and beauty was dire, and we wanted to bring that sense of celebration of our communities in a youthful way along with holding space for important conversations. In recent times, I have seen other platforms that perhaps might have seen the success and longevity of Sauce and felt inspired to (successfully) carve out their own niche.
This makes me incredibly proud that we are collectively bringing something special to our industry. As for our readers, we might occasionally receive messages such as “this doesn't feel very Sauce” or “I love this new design element on Sauce.” Both, postive and negative DMs makes me feel like we’ve truly created a community that feels as much a part of Sauce, as we see them to be. It actually gives me immense joy to have a community that holds Sauce to a certain standard.
On the topic of media, the last few years have seen the industry take some steps forward on the front of diversification and inclusion — Vogue India relaunched in 2022, reports have shown that Asian representation on screen has increased more than five-fold, there’s been a global embrace of East Asian musical artists. How do you feel about where the mediascape is currently at on the diversity and inclusion front, and what do you see as its big areas of improvement?
There is a sort of symphony of contradictions and dualities as we try to navigate representation in the media. In some ways we’ve seen huge shifts and sometimes I am reminded nothing ever changes.
As a person of colour, working in media, at times it feels like you have to bear the burdens of both, showing up with absolute excellence but also hold space for the atrocities that are happening to people that look like me, or my children or my close friends. But to answer your question, there are some incredible people out there that understand the nuances around it and also push for that level of excellence.
There is so much beauty in us all coming together in that power way but then there are others that are stuck in old (colonial) ways and are completely unaware of how their hiring policies and budget allocations and how that can affect the future generations. They are only focused on their next KPI but not really thinking about how that brand or business is going to be perceived in the long run. In my opinion, they are setting themselves up for failure in the long run.
Sauce does such a fantastic job at platforming creatives, both established and emerging, in your local New Zealand and across the globe. Who are the individuals, either big or under the radar, that we should be keeping an eye on, not only in fashion, but across categories?
Thank you and we are really lucky to be based in a country that allows space for emerging creatives. Here is my list across all categories:
Beauty - Emma Lewisham, Raaie, Sans, Chloe Zara Hair and Aleph (makeup) to name a few.
Art - Ayesha Green, Vishmi Helatratne, Grace Bader, Robyn Kahukiwa and Cindy Leong.
Fashion - Rebe is an exciting emerging brand that I think is going to go far.
Design - Amelia Fagance does wonderful custom made furniture and design led objects.
We’re firmly in the era of the women's media giant relaunch, with many once-shuttered global mastheads making their return to the local market in the last 12 months or so. As the head of one yourself, what do you see as the role of independent publishers in a time where the mediasphere is once again becoming more saturated?
To be really honest the relaunches are exciting but the way we interact with print media has changed forever. Substack is another exciting medium that is taking over the need for quality content and there are so many ex-media editors/journalists on it so I sense a major growth within this space. As for Sauce, keeping it agile and fluid has been a good strategy for me, personally, but for the business side of things too.
We recently moved our newsletters to substack and that’s been a great way to grow our community in a more sustainable way. I do have bigger plans for the future, but for now I am hoping to ride the wave and mitigate some of the industry challenges with the economy.
What are the New Zealand brands you want people to know about that maybe aren't quite on people's radars yet? Who are the ones to watch?
Wixii is an exciting New Zealand brand that definitely flies under the radar and they always make my list of qualities you’d want in a contemporary womenswear brand. Each and every garment is made with natural yarns and fabrics sourced from small multigenerational factories, focusing on really beautiful quality and the price point is attainable. The garments just make you feel so relaxed but lush.
I love Zambesi too. If your style is a mix of Row, Margiela, Jil Sander, then Zambesi is the perfect brand for you. They have championed creativity and inclusions since the inception of the brand.
Some of the other notable names are Laing, Maggie Marilyn, Wynn Hamlyn and Harris Tapper. We are spoilt for choice.
As a mum of two very cute little people, what do you want to teach them about personal style?
My focus is always on quality comfortable clothing and natural fibres. However, my daughter, who is 4 years old at the moment, has a very distinct style. As adults, we have so many rules (practical but limiting at times) and I really want her to find joy in clothing, colour and print. There are no rules in her wardrobe and I want her to feel that sense of joy in the discoveries.
In 2024, how would you describe your personal style — has it changed in recent years, or remained steadfast?
Personal style in my opinion is a process of constant discovery. Our likes and dislikes are evolving and that can reflect in our personal style. I think there are elements that have remained steadfast - I love an item that has a bold design element or pop of colour, and I might add practical and minimal pieces to that item to create a more ‘classic style’.
What are 5 wardrobe essentials you couldn’t live without?
What’s your process for adding new pieces into your wardrobe? (How often are you doing it? Is there a thought process you follow before investing?)
I go through phases where I don't buy anything for months, and then I might purchase several items in the same week. But I never shop for an occasion or for a holiday but I do love shopping for a new season - there is something poetic about bringing in a new season.
I love discovering and investing into artisan brands and quality products so this is always my number one priority with any new additions. I also try to resell items I am no longer using so that’s a really important process as well.
Photography: Holly Burgess for Rebe
