Ponsonby/ Westmere based designer and mother of four, Sarah McNaughton launched her label Sarah Bell this month and we immediately fell in love with it.
Since her return to Auckland she has been sought after as a patternmaker by astute labels Penny Sage and Karen Walker, while focusing on her family and her four young children. Now, nearly thirty years on from when she first started, Sarah McNaughton is making her Sarah Bell label again, relaunching it in a way that is more true to her nature and closer to her values of small and sustainable. Each item in Sarah’s label is ethically and locally manufactured in limited editions and comes with a registered tag that can trace its origin.
The first Edition has produced two iconic pieces: a smock blouse with a romantic drape that shows off Sarah’s skills in pattern construction, and a high waisted jean inspired by 1940’s workwear. It’s a clever pairing that unconsciously crosses boundaries for style and function: utilitarian pants that last for months without a wash, and an aristocratic blouse that begs to be taken out to lunch. “These pieces have developed from a place of contentment: for who I am, and the age and stage of life I am in,” says Sarah, whose philosophy and ethos is deeply grounded in family values.
Support is in high demand for local small brands right now and this is one that is most definitely worth seeking out.
Sarah Bell is stocked by Scotties in High Street and online at www.sarahbell.co.nz
(HELENE RAVLICH)