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NZ Herald
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Here's How Harris Tapper Will Debut At New Zealand Fashion Week
A big deal, marked intimately. Harris Tapper is a business in scale, but its New Zealand Fashion Week debut won't be. Joining the official NZFW schedule for the first time in 2025, the premiere presentation, held for less than 100 guests at Blue in Ponsonby, will be small, considered, and personal. The brand says, 'There's a new pulse coming from New Zealand fashion, we felt it was our duty to contribute.' Harris Tapper joins a host of high-profile Aotearoa fashion brands confirming their involvement on the official schedule of Aotearoa's premier fashion event, which returns in its new format from August 25-30. Imbuing the intimacy of a mid-century couture salon, expect the Harris Tapper experience to mirror the ethos of the brand itself: clothes designed not for spectacle, but for the woman herself – modern, hard-working tailoring, designed with wise restraint. In a nod to the nostalgic elegance that underpins the brand's next collection, guests will be served Tanqueray Gibsons. The cousin of the martini mixes gin and dry vermouth and is often garnished with a pickled onion. The brand will show a new collection that launches in August, with some of the pieces available to buy. Alongside this, the presentation will include special 'coming-soon' pieces and some custom-made, artisanal one-offs. 'We are often inspired by the masters of couture and the quiet showmanship of the early couture salon shows in the 50s and 60s. We'll be questioning the modern approach to sophistication and elegance.' Close-knit showings have become somewhat of a signature for the burgeoning brand. In February, to celebrate its Spring Summer 2025 collection, it collaborated with Australian boutique The New Trend to host an intimate cocktail evening at The Apollo Inn in Melbourne. Last November, it collaborated with art adviser Anna Shapiro Taylor, bringing together artists Karen Black and Cybele Cox in Sydney to discuss the nuances of producing work at the intersection of commerce and creativity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harris Tapper (@harris_tapper) It was a fitting talking point for co-founders Lauren Tapper and Sarah Harris Gould, who are themselves meeting a period of increased commercial demand with an uncompromising vision. Over the past 24 months, the quiet confidence that underpins their approach and aesthetic has translated into marked market momentum. Founded in 2017 as outfitters who at first focused solely on shirting, the brand has doubled its revenue annually. The lift corresponds with a period in which the Harris Tapper brand has been cultivating a strong international presence. Tapper and Gould recently returned from New York City, where they took a series of meetings, including one at Vogue. But the Auckland-based design duo say this NZFW debut is a moment to celebrate on home ground, a salute to staying true to the philosophy that has garnered fans from the outset. 'The time and space we've allowed ourselves to sharpen our voice and tone has led to a more considered, curated approach to the way we see our wearer.' A rare moment sees the brand with a core of quiet authority step into the spotlight. 'We are never in a rush to be loud,' admits Tapper. 'But this feels like the right moment to speak.' 'We've spent years refining our DNA, fit and cut; working with amazing tailors, pattern cutters and skilled artisans. It felt like the product, the brand and the business were ready to speak and it feels only fitting that the conversation is here, where Harris Tapper was born.' Harris Tapper's NZFW debut won't be about spectacle – those in the room will see a statement of established identity. A language of easy elegance displayed through refined fits, cuts and fabrics that toy with notions of femininity and power. They say their involvement in fashion week is 'both a culmination and a beginning'. A brand entering a new era with assured energy, while treasuring the unique landscape they're born from. Like fashion week itself. More on local fashion From emerging talents to statements through style. NZ Fashion Week 2025: 25 Things You Need To Know About The Event's New Era. New Zealand Fashion Week: Kahuria is set to make a jubilant return next month. William Fitzgerald's Circular Design Is 'Shoddy'. The Mindful Fashion Award-Winner On Why That's A Good Thing. William Keane Jung-Ying Fitzgerald, the winner of the Editorial Prize at the Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards, has sewn a slick suit spun from recycled materials. From Warkworth To London, Fashion Designer Kat Tua Is Challenging Māori Stereotypes. Menswear designer Kat Tua talks to Dan Ahwa about a deeply personal bespoke creation designed to underpin the values of her brand Manaaki for an international audience.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Karen Black named Virginia's 2025 outstanding assistant principal
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) – Karen Black, assistant principal at Great Bridge High School, has been named the 2025 Outstanding Secondary School Assistant Principal of Virginia by a panel of principals and superintendents from the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP), according to a release. Black has 26 years of experience in education, including eight years as an assistant principal. She has served as the assistant principal of instruction at Great Bridge High School since 2022. 'Mrs. Black embraces her current position with enthusiasm and ingenuity,' said Carol Robinson, chair of the VASSP Awards Committee. 'She actively looks for ways to lead innovative approaches to student achievement.' Among her initiatives, Black developed transition classes to support struggling learners, which led to a 6% increase in the English Standards of Learning pass rates, accord to a release. Believing that education is a calling, Black emphasizes the importance of finding joy in all endeavors. Great Bridge Principal Jeffrey Johnson praised Black's qualities as a successful administrator. 'Mrs. Black is proactive and always willing to learn new strategies that will improve instruction,' he said. 'She strategically assists teachers and actively seeks ways to recognize their positive attributes.' Superintendent Jared Cotton noted that Black's recognition is a testament to her dedication, innovative leadership, and commitment to student success. 'Her ability to inspire students and staff through her passion for education has made a lasting impact on Great Bridge High School and Chesapeake Public Schools,' Cotton said. 'We are incredibly proud of her well-deserved achievement.' Karen Black will be honored at the Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference & Exposition in June 2025 and will also be recognized nationally at the 2025 National Principals Conference in July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
