As one of NZ’s top fashion designers you’re the perfect example of a successful Kiwi career woman.  Can you please give us a brief overview of your career so far?
In my early 20s, I opened my first store on High Street in Auckland. A year later I opened another store in Wellington. Both stores only sold the Trelise Cooper label and were very successful. In 1988, nine months after giving birth to my son, I decided to sell up and take a year out to campervan through Europe.  On my return, I worked at Classic Fashions designing and producing the Trelise Cooper label under license. After four seasons and missing my son too much, I retired to become a full time mum. That was 1990. In 1997 I set up on the kitchen table hoping to have a 9-3 job while Jasper was at school. Very soon I was moving out of our home and into premises with retail and an export business. I never did get the 9-3 day. Since 1997 I have experienced exponential growth, a wild ride and lots of fun.

Is there such a thing as a ‘typical’ day in your professional life? Or is every day different?
The one thing I absolutely love about my job is that no two days that are ever the same. There is nothing typical or usual in any one day, which has kept me stimulated and excited about going to work. I have never suffered boredom in my job. I believe this is due to doing something that I passionately love. Because I am the principle and founder but also the head designer, each hour finds me wearing a different hat.

What is your secret to juggling your three highly successful labels, Trelise Cooper, Cooper by Trelise and Trelise Cooper Kids? How do you maintain a work life balance?
I focus on one collection in any one moment. If something catches my attention for one of the other labels, I store it away and come back to it when that label is the focus. Maintaining a work/life balance is an ongoing challenge. I see my work as the way I express myself in life, and more than
Balance, it's integration of what I love to do and the people I love.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by all the things that surround me, and as I travel a great deal I'm often surrounded by very beautiful things: historical, contemporary, colourful, and romantic.  Different cultures inspire me whether it's the vintage tablecloths in provincial French markets or the bold ensembles of Harajuku schoolgirls in Tokyo or the colourful saris worn by the female road workers in India.

What do you enjoy most about being at the helm of your own business?
My creativity is uncensored. I have the freedom of choice to do it my way.

You have had so many career highlights – are there any that stand out as favourites?
Landing my elite LA agent in 2001 because she has entry to the A-List stores across America and that opened the doors to becoming an international business. Meeting my Dutch partners for European expansion, travelling to Beijing and meeting my Chinese distributors for the Kids' Collection are
among my favourites this week.

Do you have any advice you can give to young women aspiring to be fashion designers?
Hold on to the Dream, pursue it with determination and persistence, write the dream in a journal in full technicolour and keep it private.

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