Feature: Docherty Wilkins At Air NZ Fashion Week

It’s not often that a debut collection is shown on the Fashion Week runway without anyone ever having seen even a stitch of what’s to offer. So there was a lot of anticipation to see how Docherty Wilkins’ designer Heather Docherty would showcase her first label.

Today Docherty showed off fine tailoring skills with a collection of exquisitely hand finished pieces. Shapes were minimal but carried delicate detailing with teeny covered buttons stitched to waistbands and shirtfronts.

Colours were muted and neutral in soft beiges, greys and brown which appeared as separates. Jackets, pants and skirts carried off a balance of nonchalant sexiness (beige never did scream sex!) but Docherty’s skilful cutting created shapes just loose enough to bounce.

Docherty cites a holiday in Turkey to have been starting point for inspiration. This was seen in muted blue and red stripes on a wool miniskirt and later on a waistcoat. A distinctly oriental symbol was discreetly embroidered on fringed satiny scarves.

Today may have been the showcase of her very first collection, but Docherty, along with her design partner and husband Rory have a wealth of fashion experience between them – Docherty having honed her talents as a pattern cutter and tailor for TopShop, and Rory instore at Yohji Yamamoto and Miu Miu. So it’s a match made in heaven -a perfect marriage of High Street and High End Fashion in more ways than one!

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