Fish out of water - Rebecca Taylor

Following an idyllic childhood in the sleepy seaside village of Seatoun, this Wellington lass has gone on to conquer the fashion world. By Ben Christie
It really is the stuff of fairytales. Rebecca Taylor left Wellington two days after graduating from the Wellington School of Design at age 22, with her boyfriend and $600 in her pocket.

Today, her label – Rebecca Taylor – and her playful feminine designs are distributed in 250 cities in more than 40 countries worldwide. Her celebrity fans include Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Michelle Gellar , Rachel Bilson and Kristen Bell.

When Rebecca first arrived in New York in the early 1990s, she’d only planned on staying for a few months and moved into a hostel on 23rd Street. “I worked various jobs before I began working for a 7th Avenue design house where I met my business partner, Beth Bugdaycay. In the winter of 1996, we started the Rebecca Taylor label and the rest is history!”

Taylor says it wasn’t part of her master plan to move to New York and start up her own fashion label. “Being 22, I think I was more into partying and experiencing life. When I got there, I kind of saw what was possible and thought, ‘Why not?’ But if someone asked if I would do it all again, probably not! Being young and ignorant certainly is bliss!”

On first arriving in New York, she says it was a much scarier place than it is now. “The lower eastside was a no-go area for a start, but now it’s such a go-to place for shopping and cafés. Most people now have to live in Brooklyn due to the sky-high rent prices; whereas when I arrived you could easily afford a cockroach studio somewhere. Lots of rich kids have moved in now!”

So what’s a day in the life of a successful New York fashion designer like? Taylor now has three children under the age of three, so her first priority is taking care of them before going to work. “My work day usually begins with a design, production or merchandising meeting. My afternoons are usually filled with fittings and sample-line reviews. When I don’t have an event to attend or a PR obligation, I rush home to eat dinner with my family and put my children to bed. I cap the night off with a great book and glass of wine.”

She says New York is an amazing place to live; full of culture and inspiration. “The energy in this city is so wonderful and extremely motivating. You just feel so alive being here. Also, I also adore the seasons: snow, hot summers, cherry blossoms and autumn colours… so invigorating.”

Taylor says it’s the creative part of her job that still gives her the most satisfaction, particularly the process of designing a collection. “I enjoy being inspired each day and creating luxurious, wearable and affordable clothing for women to indulge in. And the people I work with also make it a pleasure to come to work. There’s no room for divas at Rebecca Taylor.”

She is now a veteran of New York Fashion Week, putting on her first show in 1999, and says organising a show is hectic but rewarding. “It’s a lot of hard work and takes months to prepare for Fashion Week. It involves all members of my team, including everyone from public relations, production staff, designers, tech designers, patternmakers and sewers. It’s a team effort!”

While her life is in New York now, her mind does wander down under to thoughts of Wellington. “I often think of Wellington. Visiting over Christmas, I was reminded how insanely friendly and unpretentious everybody is. A sunny afternoon in Oriental Bay is mind-blowingly beautiful! It doesn’t get much better anywhere else.”