Kazakhstan fashion comes to Auckland

A woman from the former Soviet Union is bringing fashion trends from Kazakhstan to the streets of Auckland.

Asya Sadyrova, 34, is a Kazakhstan-trained fashion designer and tailor who came to New Zealand three years ago with almost no English and her 10-year-old son Vlad.

In January she opened the doors to her alteration store Atelier Sandringham in central Auckland suburb Sandringham.

With 20 years experience in the clothing industry she said she’s here to service the community.

Atelier Sandringham offers tailoring, alterations and original dressmaking - a ‘‘one stop shop’’.

Since Sadyrova came to New Zealand in 2013 she has been working from home as she built up the business.

When a space became available above Sandringham’s local pub Lord Kitchener overlooking the Sandringham shops intersection she took it.

‘‘It’s now serious,’’ she said. Sadyrvoa first picked up a needle and thread when she was 14, and went on to study fashion for five years at East Kazakhstan University.

She opened an alterations store in Kazakhstan but decided to move across the world to be with her New Zealand-based partner. Sadyrova said she had noticed some some differences between New Zealand and Kazakhstan fashion.

‘‘Girls from Kazakhstan usually have clothing made from scratch, while Kiwi girls buy clothing and then bring it in for alterations, which is often more expensive.

‘‘In effect they’re paying twice, and I want to keep it affordable.’’

She said girls from Kazakhstan dress up for every occasion, while New Zealanders were not as rigorous.

‘‘Girls in my country like to dress up all the time, they like to have the perfect fit for their body and shape, Kiwi girls seem more relaxed.’’

Sadyrova said she’s looking forward to helping girls out with their dresses for approaching school balls.

Sadyrova is also providing her own ‘‘classic style’’ clothing range alongside her tailoring skills.

She said her vision was to make women feel feminine, beautiful and powerful for any occasion.

‘‘I love sewing, I started when I was 14 years old and it’s my life.’’

In 2016 New Zealand received just over 250 visitors from Kazakhstan which is a nation of 17 million people.