Aunty

Aunty is made by Dallas Cunningham in her St Clair workroom. Aunty has no age or gender barriers - it is a celebration of the art of dressing. Made with love and care, just like your Aunty would.

Tell us a little about what you make.

I make mainly womenswear but a little menswear too, streetwear style. Now that I’m a nana, I also do childrenswear under the label Young Pups that you can find at GUILD along with my Aunty label. I dabble a bit in hats, jewellery, bags, toys and anything handmade and interesting.

What was your creative journey like, what led you to being a designer/maker?

I’ve always been interested in textiles and making garments. I began sewing when I was 8 and my whole working life has been in the garment industry from when I was  17 years old. I studied dress design in Dublin and completed a couture course at Otago Polytechnic. I’ve had my own business for 30 years.

How would you describe your design aesthetic/identity and where do you find your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from many sources, sometimes a detail of something  someone in the street is wearing, or in a magazine. Sometimes a style evolves from an idea of something I would like to wear myself. Sometimes the sky or trees inspire me even with a colour combination. It always comes back to what I would happily wear myself, in a practical sense as well as style.

Do you have any advice for other makers and budding creatives?

My advice for young makers would be to not be discouraged. Keep at it. Be patient. It can take a while for you and your customer base to find each other. You may have to explore different marketing forums. But never sacrifice quality.

What is the best part about being involved in GUILD?

Coming from a home based workplace into the group at GUILD has been amazing. I’ve met and worked with so many lovely, creative talented people that I would never have been involved with if it hadn’t have been for GUILD. I’ve loved working with a wide age group of people and I have made friendships that I know will last my lifetime. I’ve travelled with some, shared dinners and been introduced into their families. I’ve done collaborations with other talented people and found new walking buddies with fellow dog lovers. Thank you GUILD.