It’s official – she’s a dame

She has set up an internationally successful fashion house, built houses in Thailand, and designed T- shirts to raise money for breast cancer, but becoming a dame is the ‘‘ pinnacle’’, says Trelise Cooper.

The Auckland fashion designer was made a dame in the New Year honours.

‘‘ There’s something about me that feels slightly embarrassed about it, but at the same time, I’m not – I’m thrilled,’’ she said, speaking from a beach house in Whananaki, north of Whangarei.

‘‘ I think the

fashion

world might seem a little frivolous to some people, but it is a very serious business – and a big business.

‘‘ It [ the award] gives a legitimacy to what we do and it’s great for women.’’

The designer is best known for her eponymous business, set up in 1985, which spans three labels – Trelise Cooper, Cooper by Trelise, and Trelise Cooper Kids.

The honour also recognises her extensive community work, which has always been a part of her life. She grew up in a family where giving to the community was valued.

While Dame Trelise once packed food parcels and picked up women to take them to women’s refuge, she now contributes her design skills and name to organisations such as Habitat for Humanity, Breast Cancer Research Trust, and Maritage International, a United Nations partner organisation that helps women from developing countries.

The most rewarding experience she’s had was mentoring 120 longterm unemployed youth in a sixweek programme in her role as the first female patron of the Auckland RSA.

She saw them transform. At the start they had no hope, but afterwards 93 per cent gained employment or enrolled in a course.

‘‘ The transformation of these people’s lives is just the most moving thing to see,’’ she said.

Dame Trelise sees a similar transformation in a fitting room.

‘‘ You can have someone walk in feeling pretty awful about themselves, and with the right kindnesses, you can actually transform how they feel about themselves, and how they look. ‘‘ That’s the driver for me.’’ Her clothes are stocked all over the world, but the designer remains loyal to New Zealand and can’t see herself skipping New Zealand Fashion Week.

‘‘ I have a lot of amazing customers in New Zealand,’’ built me.’’

Her once small Parnell business now has 120 staff, who know her affectionately as ‘‘ TC’’ – but will she become ‘‘ Dame Trelise’’ at the office?

‘‘ Only when I want my staff to really do what I want!’’ she joked. ‘‘ I think some people already think I’m a bit of a dame.’’

Two other New Zealand fashion designers are honoured this year – Karen Walker, appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and Francis Hooper of World, who becomes a Member of the NZ Order of Merit.

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‘‘ You can have someone walk in feeling pretty awful about themselves, and with the right kindnesses, you can actually transform how they feel about themselves, and how they look.’’ Dame Trelise Cooper Fashion designer