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131:. He invited her to London to meet with British designers and study under them. In 1949 she went to London with her husband to study at the Model House group. Through her studies she learned pattern making and was also heavily influenced by the atmosphere of designers studios and the style in which design labels were launched.
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In 1950 she opened her first salon 'Gowns by Emma
Knuckey.' She modeled the opening of the Salon off what she had seen in London, 'I opened my business with an exciting fashion show – rows of small chairs, invitations, flowers, soft lights and music." Shortly after opening Knuckey formed a business
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Due to limits on the quality of fabric that could be sourced in New
Zealand Knuckey imported the majority of fabric used from overseas. She imported material from England, Switzerland, Ireland and Scotland. The emphasis of her designs was on the quality of the fabric she used.
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Knuckey returned to retail in 1971 as she opened a new store of her own on Darby street, not far from the original salon. This opening saw a change in the style of clothes sold as mini skirts and hot pants began to be incorporated into
Knuckey's designs.
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In 1959, 'Gowns by Emma
Knuckey' closed as the business partners moved to sell their clothes through wholesale. Their garments were sold through New Zealand's main department stores which included
124:. Her grandmother owned a drapery shop and her mother was a seamstress, their influence led to her interest in design. Without any formal training Knuckey began to design garments.
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100:; 14 December 1912 – 12 December 1998) was a pioneering New Zealand fashion designer, known for her evening gowns. Her work is currently held at
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In the mid-1940s
Knuckey sent some of her designs to London designer Frederick Starke, founder of the
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Silk chiffon dress designed by
Valsean Simpson circa 1963–64. Made in Auckland New Zealand
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at Smith & Caughey’s in
Auckland where Knuckey's clothing was once sold.
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partnership with Betty Clarke, one of her employees.
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Robinson, Philippa; Dix, Kelley (22 February 2016).
169:In March 2017 Emma Knuckey's work was exhibited in
166:She retired from fashion in 1974 and died in 1998.
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171:Walk the Walk: A History of Fashion in the City
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16:New Zealand fashion designer (1913–1998)
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325:New Zealand women fashion designers
209:from the original on 24 March 2023
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320:New Zealand fashion designers
295:Auckland War Memorial Museum
238:Auckland War Memorial Museum
120:Knuckey was born in 1912 in
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203:New Zealand Fashion Museum
199:www.nzfashionmuseum.org.nz
193:Dix, Kelly (March 2017).
330:People from New Plymouth
283:19 December 2018 at the
129:London Model House Group
157:Kirkcaldie & Stains
259:"Twenty Years Later".
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153:Smith & Caughey's
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35:Emma Cecilia Campbell
94:Emma Cecilia Knuckey
263:. 26 November 1970.
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278:Hawkes Bay Museum
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79:Fashion designer
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272:External links
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233:"Emma Knuckey"
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122:New Plymouth
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62:(1998-12-12)
49:New Plymouth
25:Emma Knuckey
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315:1998 deaths
310:1912 births
304:Categories
244:3 February
213:9 November
177:References
116:Early life
76:Occupation
41:1912-12-14
281:Archived
261:The Star
207:Archived
108:and the
98:Campbell
68:Auckland
290:Te Papa
106:Te Papa
135:Career
96:(née
246:2022
215:2023
155:and
57:Died
31:Born
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