Kate Megaw of Penny Sage

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your brand Penny Sage?

Penny Sage is an independent clothing label made here in Aotearoa. We work with many talented makers across Tāmaki Makaurau to bring our pieces to life. Currently, we are a team of four. We work together in our Grey Lynn studio. Our space is an all-in-one design studio, workroom, and destination retail space.

How did your journey start?

I have always had a passion for clothing and learned how to sew from a young age. As I grew up, my interest in making clothes increased. I studied fashion design and gained experience in the industry both locally and internationally. This experience helped me develop a clear vision of how I wanted to create my own clothing brand. In 2011, I founded Penny Sage to bring my vision to life.

Can you share an interesting aspect of your work or part of the product-making process?

Our garments have a tactile feel, and our customers often compliment the quality of our fabrics, which are mostly made from natural fibers. We collaborate with like minded makers and artists to create our own unique textiles and knitwear. We take great pride in the fit of our clothing, especially our pants and trousers, and pay close attention to the small details that make a difference in the wearing experience. We are proud of the fact that all of our pieces are locally produced, giving them a handmade quality that sets them apart. We love to be actively involved in every stage of production.

What are your plans and aspirations both personally and professionally?

We are in the very early stages of developing a special collection, an offering of something new for us. I don’t want to give too much away about it yet but it's a project we're really excited about!

What can you tell us about the Spacefor activation?

Our permanent retail space located in Grey Lynn has become a destination spot for many. We have created our own little Penny Sage world there, and we thought it would be fun to bring it to a wider audience with the celebration of our new winter collection.

We all love visiting Britomart, and it's such a great experience to have Penny Sage nestled amongst other beautiful retail spaces.

Currently, we have a few special pieces that are exclusively available in the Britomart space.

Quick Answers

Currently, my favourite brands are: We stock many of my favourite brands! To name a few: Klay, Baserange, and jewelry designers Shannen Young and Zelda Murray.

An object or item I can't live without: I love the Penny Sage x Sphaera laundry soap. It is a lifesaver when it comes to washing my delicate clothing as well as removing any stains. I always carry a bar with me whenever I go away, especially when I'm going camping. It's super handy and effective!

My favourite online destinations is: Trade Me. I love trawling through it and finding something special.

My favourite place to shop is: I enjoy shopping for homeware online at Klay (klay.co.nz). They offer a beautiful collection of unique and practical items that they have made themselves, as well as sourced from other talented makers around the world. I design most of the clothes I wear and we sell most of my favorite pieces. But for everything else, I prefer to shop for second-hand and vintage items.

Offline VS Online? Offline!