From SKIMS finally making its way to New Zealand, to Wellington’s fashion community launching an ambitious new creative platform, this week’s fashion news cycle is packed with major industry moments.
Elsewhere, winter collections continue to lean into nostalgia, texture and thoughtful dressing — with Harris Tapper exploring Victorian-inspired opulence, Kowtow grounding itself in craftsmanship and Sylvester delivering a playful take on cold-weather layering.
SKIMS is officially coming to New Zealand
For the first time ever, SKIMS will officially launch in New Zealand, arriving at the new Faradays department store when it opens on Queen Street this August.
Founded in 2019 by Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede, the globally dominant label has become synonymous with modern shapewear, underwear and elevated essentials, building a cult following around inclusive sizing and technically constructed basics.
As the first official brand announcement for Faradays, the partnership signals the scale of ambition behind the new retail concept. Spread across three floors, the experiential department store will combine fashion, beauty, wellness, dining and rotating activations in what co-founder Constance von Dadelszen describes as a retail environment grounded in “experience and service”.
“We wanted to open the fashion conversation at Faradays with a brand that the world already loves, but that New Zealand has never had access to,” von Dadelszen said.
The first SKIMS drop will launch from NZD $35, with NikeSKIMS also expected to arrive in spring 2026. While the wider brand roster remains under wraps, Faradays has hinted at an exceptionally strong line-up of global fashion, beauty and lifestyle names still to be announced.
@faradays.store
Wellington’s design community comes together for Common Material
This June, four of Wellington’s most influential fashion labels will come together inside City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi for Common Material — a new three-day cultural event designed to spotlight the city’s creative community.
Bringing together Yu Mei, JPALM, Kowtow and twenty-seven names, the initiative marks the first public opening of the gallery in more than two years ahead of its official reopening later this year.
Running from June 5–7, the programme will include runway presentations, panel discussions, archival displays and conversations exploring fashion, craftsmanship and the realities of designing in Aotearoa.
But the ambition stretches beyond fashion alone. Organisers hope Common Material will evolve into a full Wellington Biennial, eventually encompassing furniture design, ceramics, architecture, typography and other creative disciplines across the capital.
“We see this event as a way to help grow our creative industry here,” said Jessie Wong. “The ambition is that in two years’ time, we return with a wider group of design practitioners and a true biennial on our hands.”
The event also precedes the gallery’s major reopening exhibition later this year: a large-scale survey of acclaimed British artist Cornelia Parker, opening in October.
Tickets on sale now via wellingtonbiennial.com
Harris Tapper explores softness and morbidity for Pre-Fall 2026
Harris Tapper’s new Pre-Fall 2026 collection arrives steeped in Victorian references, drawing on the visual language of mourning dress and antique sleepwear.
Rich velvet, washed cotton and featherweight apple silk create a tactile tension throughout the collection, while custom embroideries inspired by wrought iron architecture introduce a sense of ornamentation and restraint.
The collection’s standout moments arrive through draped emerald velvet tailoring — particularly the Irving Trouser and robe-style Graff Jacket — alongside sheer knit lace, satin faille separates and hand-beaded detailing that trails across the body.
Elsewhere, soft wool and cashmere knitwear in muted tonalities of Elderflower, Mull and Neptune tempers the collection’s darker romanticism, grounding the season in warmth and wearability.
Balancing shadow with softness, Harris Tapper continues to refine its signature world of quiet opulence and modern femininity.
Shope Harris Tapper Pre-Fall online now at harristapper.com
Kowtow grounds winter dressing in craft and materiality
The fourth and final instalment of Kowtow’s current collection, The Ground Beneath, has now arrived — continuing the Wellington label’s ongoing exploration of craft, process and responsible design.
Built around earthy khakis, mineral blues, citrus greens and rich brown denim inspired by potting soil, Drop 4 balances sculptural tailoring with softer textures and painterly prints. Hero pieces include the Portrait Jacket, Twist Jeans and a new series of knitwear silhouettes.
Traditional craft techniques sit at the centre of the collection’s visual language, with references to basket weaving, patchwork, painting and textile construction appearing throughout checks, stripes and layered prints. Texture remains key, moving between airy floral voiles, structured poplin and the season’s signature denim fabrication.
As always for the brand, every design decision is grounded in Kowtow’s commitment to single-fibre, plastic-free construction — reinforcing the label’s position at the forefront of circular fashion design in New Zealand.
Shop The Ground Beneath online now at kowtowclothing.com
Sylvester leans into nostalgia with High Winter ’26
One year on from its relaunch, Sylvester’s latest High Winter collection, Lucky, channels a playful sense of optimism through collegiate styling, textured layers and nostalgic winter dressing.
Inspired by those everyday moments where getting dressed feels instinctive rather than overthought, the collection blends Highland checks, striped separates, fluffy outerwear and cosy fleece pieces.
The accompanying lookbook captures that same carefree spirit, pairing oversized collegiate hoodies with low-rise denim, fuzzy jackets layered over delicate slips, and soft shrugs thrown over striped dresses and ripple skirts.
With references spanning sporty Americana, sleepwear and off-duty winter layering, Lucky feels youthful, comforting and intentionally undone — the kind of wardrobe built for cold mornings, spontaneous plans and everything in between.
Lucky is available to shop in store and online now at slyvesterpg.com
Tuesday Label romanticises rural dressing with Countryside
Drawing inspiration from vintage Ralph Lauren and the quiet romance of rural life, Tuesday’s latest collection, Countryside, reimagines heritage dressing through a softer, more contemporary lens.
Traditional plaids, herringbones and houndstooth tailoring are layered with delicate lace pieces and feminine florals, creating a wardrobe that balances structure with ease. The palette moves between deep navy, merlot and dark chocolate before lifting into pale pinks, crisp whites and flashes of seasonal orange.
Tailored suiting silhouettes are softened through texture and print, while versatile layering pieces reinforce the collection’s focus on longevity and everyday wearability.
Thoughtful and understated, Countryside continues fashion’s broader return toward classic dressing — clothes rooted in familiarity, craftsmanship and enduring style rather than trend-driven novelty.
Shop Tuesday new arrivals in store and online now at tuesdaylabel.com