ARDIE SAVEA CREATES NZ’S NEXT TOP FASHION LABEL
All Black Ardie Savea will launch his own clothing range this week.
Together with long-time Saskia Hartmann Hechenberger, the best dressed AB has channelled his creative juices into streetwear brand, Ardie Savea Clothing. The couple are expecting their first child, but that hasn’t prevented them launching a fashion label a few months before the due date. Hartmann-Hechenberger,
23, has a business background and will manage the brand, while Savea juggles the role with his chocka rugby schedule.
Savea has been interested in fashion since he was a child. At Rongotai College he would even alter his school uniform to a style he liked. The talented flanker says he always wondered “What if ...?” HartmannHechenberger told Spy Savea did not start to realise his dream until she said: “Let’s do this together, and see what happens.
“We started at the beginning of the year with the mantra: ‘If you don’t try something you’ll regret it’.” Designer Tuakana Metuarau ,a schoolfriend of Savea, created the logo and branding, which features Savea’s face as stylised emoji. Seeing his logo on the clothing has left the 1.88m 23-year-old feeling “pretty chuffed and proud”.
Savea’s style has put him on Spy’s best-dressed lists. He favours casual chic and cites American basketball player Russell Westbrook as an inspiration.
The first Ardie Savea Clothing range is a hip cotton streetwear collection. Photographer Louise Hatton, partner of Savea’s Hurricanes teammate Brad Shields, did the photo shoot and next weekend fans can view and purchase the entire Ardie Savea Clothing collection online.
For a sneak peek and the website address announcement, check out @ardiesaveaclothing on Instagram.