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This Week’s Issue

‘Adrion Atelier’ – a fashion label to watch

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September 9, 2025

Adrian Williams had his own showing on the catwalk at Auckland Fashion Week.

Just two years ago The Informer featured African fashion designer Adrian Williams when he began ‘Adrion Atelier’ creating high-end fashion at Whenuakite. This year he had his own showing on the catwalk at Auckland Fashion Week. “When I sent my expression of interest to Fashion Week, I thought I might be in with a chance to share a collective catwalk and show a couple of my designs. I never expected to have my own catwalk,” Adrian says. He began working on the 18-piece collection just two months before New Zealand Fashion Week in Auckland. “It was quite hectic,” he says, “but really exciting to have my own debut show.”

In the TV coverage, the name ‘Adrion Atelier’ appeared in lights above the catwalk. It is destined to become a substantial New Zealand fashion label. Adrian says his acceptance for Fashion Week was helped by the Fashion Quarterly Rising Star Award, which he won last year. As a result, his designs were selected to retail at The Shelter, a prestigious fashion boutique in Ponsonby.

Adrian describes his work as ‘deconstructed’ garments, “pieces to elevate the personal wardrobe.” Many of his designs are one-off bespoke orders, but for The Shelter he might make up to ten garments of one design. He prefers to use natural fibres and extravagant fabrics, enhanced by applique or feathers. A dress of peacock feathers featured on his catwalk. The first dress in his show was the very first design that Adrian created.

At Fashion Week, Adrian was also one of three finalists in the Giltrap Group Award ‘Helping Kiwis Fly’. “The whole week was an awesome experience, to be standing next to much better-known names in the industry,” he says. “I had one week’s residency at the SO/ Auckland Hotel, where I was allocated space to show my work to interested parties. I now have new sponsors and a chance of other stockists in the South island.”