Arabs order N.Z. gowns

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 7

Arabs order N.Z. gowns

By

KEN COATES

in London Fashion buyers from the oil-rich Middle East countries of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have ordered about SNZSO.OOO worth of elegant gowns designed and made in New Zealand. The wealthy Arabs swooped on the flamboyant creations of the Auckland designer. Vinka Lucas, who, with her husband, David, has organised the first exhibition of top fashion garments from the Southern Hemisphere at the London collection show last week. The British exhibition, centred on London’s Hotel Intercontinental, attracts 17,000 buyers from 68 coutnries. French models have shown the startling and original New Zealand gowns at four shows a day for three days. “In London, no-one is

making these ultra-mod-ern, creative things which appeal to the Arabs,” said the Yugoslav-born Mrs Lucas. She and her husband, with a New Zealand model, Caroline Marshall, have manned a stand in the Intercontinental which they named, “Vinka Lucas after five.” Mr Lucas. managing director of the fashion business, said as a result of selling gowns to such people as the television stars Yootha Joyce (“George and Mildred”), and Patricia Phoenix (“Coronation Street”) they were encouraged to try selling overseas. “We showed a film of one of our fashion sho.ws to buyers at Harrods.” he said.

The elegant New Zealand gowns obviously impressed the Harrods’ buyer who suggested a selection

be shown at the London collection exhibition.

David says that the phenomenal interest, not only from Middle East buyers, but from the Continent as well, makes the expense of the venture well worth while. “It is important where you are seen and with whom.” he said, having just lunched with the managing director of a big wine and spirits firm, and the fashion editor of “The Times.” “If we had arrived in Saudi Arabia with a suitcase full of our creations, no-one would have even bothered to look at them.”

But exhibiting in London, was “being in the right place at the right time, and a means to get at the wealthy market.” “When looking to people with money, you want something that is very glamorous,” said

Vinka. The gowns will sell at an average wholesale price of between $l5O and $250 each In- the Middle East, they will retail at considerably more. David Lucas, who is founder and technical director of Cooks New Zealand Wines, plans to visit Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on his way back to Auckland to finalise export plans. On the way, he will visit wine-producing areas of Italy and Germany to look at the latest equipment as a prelude to extending the company’s Hawke’s Bay winery at a cost of more than SI million. Vinka Lucas, who intends to extend her fashion export business as widely as possible, plans to visit the Continent and Los Angeles before returning home.