Forty years before the establishment of New Zealand Fashion Week, 'fashion promotion' meant parades and competitions. In 1961, Aucklander Bruce Papas won the era's top fashion design competition - the inaugural Golden Shears.
Head designer
Papas' entry for the competition, a gown titled 'Golden Peacock', was designed during his time as head designer at Queen Street's exclusive department store, Milne & Choyce. During the 10 years he spent with the store, he produced two haute couture and two ready-to-wear collections every year. To coincide with the seasonal fashion parades, Milne & Choyce displayed the Papas collections in their windows. These became a "must-see" for the general public, which on several occasions resulted in Queen Street being closed to traffic as people blocked the road to see the displays.
New Zealand's own Balenciaga
During his career, Papas designed a number of winning outfits for New Zealand Wool Board promotions and the Melbourne Cup, the gown worn by Queen Salote of Tonga at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, an entire wardrobe for a Hungarian countess, and wedding, evening and couture daywear garments for Australasia's socially active and fashion conscious women.
The 'Golden Peacock' gown was bought by a Belgian concert pianist. Papas recalled that it had only been on display in the window at Milne & Choyce for 20 minutes before being snapped up.
Fashion commentators of the day regarded him as "New Zealand's own Balenciaga".
First fashion apprentice
When he was 15 years old, Papas began working for Flora MacKenzie, an established designer of that time, as the first indentured apprentice in the fashion trade in New Zealand.
During his time at MacKenzie's boutique, Ninette Gowns, Papas studied pattern making, embroidery design, fabric draping and bespoke tailoring. MacKenzie was once quoted as saying she had not taught him anything, as was his natural talent. He was with MacKenzie for five years before starting his own salon, based in two rooms at his mother's house.
In the early 1950s, Papas was offered a position with the House of Schiaparelli in Paris. But his dream of working in a French fashion house was interrupted by his call up for National Service.
Simplicity with a difference
Papas' theory for designing clothes is simple: a woman should look beautiful at all times. "I advocate simplicity with a difference. Full emphasis is placed on the fabric, line, shape and cut," he said. "Clothes should never be ugly, but should make the wearer look and feel elegant."
In 1965, Papas left Milne & Choyce to once again establish his own salon. Located on Queen Street, it quickly became a success.
"Bruce was noted for his innovative treatment of difficult fabrics such as leather, Guipure lace, chiffon, vicuna and cashmere," said fashion historian Angela Lassig. "He also played a role in encouraging some of New Zealand's best craftspeople into the fashion world. Weavers, potters, woodworkers, silk screeners, milliners and furriers all worked specifically to his requirements."
Papas says this involvement led to his being asked to present a paper on "Handcraft in Fashion" to the University of Auckland summer school.
His minimalist sketches seen in his newspaper advertising were considered a first for New Zealand. The new style excited comment and set a standard which was to become much copied.
Papas retired from the fashion world in the early 1980s.
Further reading
Dix, Kelly (2014). Bruce Papas. New Zealand Fashion Museum.
Cite this article
Auckland Museum.
Bruce Papas: Advocate of elegance. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 5 January 2016. Updated: 8 January 2016.
URL: www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/collections/topics/bruce-papas-advocate-of-elegance
Related objects
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Bruce Papas - Papers
Description: OHMS envelope containing a Christmas card; invitation from Mr & Mrs J.R. Milne to Bruce Papas, inviting him to cocktails and a private preview parade of the Autumn-Winter fashion collection held on Wednesday, 22 February 1961, at the Skyroom Auditorium, Milne & Choyce Ltd., Queen Street, Auckland; congratulatory telegrams and letters sent to Papas regarding the Autumn-Winter fashion parade, 1961; testimonial from Flora MacKenzie, of Ninette Gowns, Auckland, dated 7 February 1952; Certificate of due Completion of Apprenticeship, issued by the Department of Labour and Employment to Bruce Stephen Papas, signed by Kenneth Smith, Chairman of the Auckland Clothing Trades' Apprenticeship Committee, dated 7 May 1952, Auckland; and several items of correspondence from both personal friends and from grateful clients.
Collection: DOCUMENTARY HERITAGEDescription: OHMS envelope containing a Christmas card; invitation from Mr & Mrs J.R. Milne to Bruce Papas, inviting him to cocktails and a private preview parade of the Autumn-Winter…
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dress, day
Description: dress, woman's, day, cream 'shark skin' fabric, deep scoop neckline cap sleeves, extensive floral patterned cutwork to neckline and sleeves, cutwork filled with netting and trimmed with appliqué, white glass beads and small decorative self covered buttons, darts to bust, five darts to front of bodice waist and two to back, box pleating around skirt, machine embroidery and beading in an arrow formation above each pleat, cotton belt loops to sides, belt missing, zipper to centre back, mid calf length, made for and worn at the garden party held at Government House in honour of the Queen's visit in 1953 (missing the beaded belt according to owner)
Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1999.63.5Accession Date: 26 May 1999Description: dress, woman's, day, cream 'shark skin' fabric, deep scoop neckline cap sleeves, extensive floral patterned cutwork to neckline and sleeves, cutwork filled with netting and…
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dress, evening
Description: dress, evening, woman's, sheath style with cream cotton guipure lace outer with detailing to bodice and skirt in silk organza, the lace is sewn to a support of stiffened cream [silk], organza to the bodice extends from each shoulder and crosses over the bust, droplet shaped synthetic pearls trim bodice, fine inverted pleats to lower section, zipper to centre back
Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1999.63.7Accession Date: 26 May 1999Description: dress, evening, woman's, sheath style with cream cotton guipure lace outer with detailing to bodice and skirt in silk organza, the lace is sewn to a support of stiffened cream…
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gown, ball
Description: ballgown, shot silk (dark green and black), fitted bodice with side zip, full floor length skirt, bow and leaf feature on left proper breast, tulle and black beading on right proper breast with appliqué and gold thread, angle pleating across the bodice and waist line with four roses and leaf feature on left hip, pleating down back of skirt, lining in light blue and orange synthetic
Collection: HUMAN HISTORYAccession Number: 1999.63.1Accession Date: 26 May 1999Description: ballgown, shot silk (dark green and black), fitted bodice with side zip, full floor length skirt, bow and leaf feature on left proper breast, tulle and black beading on right…
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