Q&A: our textile designers reflect on International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s Day! We’re celebrating the 154 wāhine employed across the Città family, including our in-house textile designers Imogen Tunnicliffe, Sophie Clapson and Georgia Robertson.
The trio works collaboratively to bring our beautiful seasonal collections to life with their creative design skills. We sat down with the team to discover who inspires them, what advice they’d give their former selves, and what International Women’s Day means to them.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Georgia: It’s a day of celebration and power to women, but it’s also a time to reflect. It’s about appreciating yourself, your peers and other women around you. It’s a time to reflect on historic issues we’ve faced and things we’re yet to overcome. It serves as a reminder everyone has a voice and we should all be seen as people of equal value and importance, gender aside.
Sophie: We recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women that have come before us. It’s an important day to support, encourage and empower women of today and the future to speak up and have their voices heard. It’s crazy to think we are in 2020 and there is still an ongoing discussion around gender equality. Everyone deserves to have equal opportunity and we have a shared responsibility to make it happen.
Imogen: It’s a day to celebrate what we uniquely contribute to the world—our female perspective is imperative. Everyone has a unique approach, and everyone needs to be heard. It’s a day to feel strong and back yourself. To believe what you say matters, and not only matters, but is an interesting and unique perspective to the patriarchal norm. We recognise how far we’ve come and think about women who are less fortunate or free.
From left: Sophie Clapson, Imogen Tunnicliffe and Georgia Robertson
Which women are you inspired by?
Imogen: Frida Kahlo has been a really big influence in my creative life. Her art was revealing and personal. She depicted herself in her paintings unfettered by anything. She spoke very freely about issues in a time when, as a woman, you weren’t expected to have strong opinions. She didn’t mould her self-image, her art or her opinions to the social norms. She created amazing art that’s still relevant and inspiring to women. Even in today’s society, she would be considered to be brave, outspoken and unique.
Sophie: I’m inspired by women who have a strong sense of self and I admire those who have the courage to break away from societal norms. My sister Mikayla is a great example of this. She lives her life freely, the way she wants to live it—not giving in to the daily pressures or judgement of others. She lived in Colombia for two years, can speak three languages and is constantly stepping outside her comfort zone. She has taught me success comes in many forms and this is something to be celebrated.
Georgia: I’m fortunate to have some pretty confident and fearless women in my life—my friends, family and colleagues. I love looking to women who have the courage make their own way and not to conform to a certain path. One of the women I’m inspired by is actually Imogen. She’s pretty amazing as a working mother. She manages to be a present mum while coming to work and being a strong, creative leader. I’m constantly learning from her every day.
If you knew what you know now, what advice would you give your former self at the start of your career?
Sophie: I’m thankful Città has been the beginning of my career, having landed this as my first design job three years ago. I’m a born perfectionist and haven’t always been the best at taking criticism on board. As a designer, you build a backbone pretty quickly and Immy (as our lead) has been great with constructive criticism. It’s important to learn this criticism has everyone’s best interests at heart. It helps you grow in your career and is beneficial to your personal growth.
Georgia: This is my first design role and I’ve been here for almost two years. It’s always nerve-racking starting out and truly backing yourself. But having confidence comes with experience and trying new things. For myself, building confidence would be one of the most important things. You learn to trust your opinions and see how that can add value to the collaborative process.
Imogen: I’d tell myself—and I’ve learnt this throughout the years—to think for yourself. Draw your own conclusions and don’t let other people’s opinions sway your voice. Also, I would definitely tell myself to read widely—research issues, be inquisitive and look outward. It’s important to know where you sit in the world and what’s going on beyond New Zealand. Speak up, ask questions and be open to learning.
