Quick: name three things for which New Zealand is famous.
Maybe you said Lord of the Rings, since it's the place where director Peter Jackson recreated Middle Earth in the Oscar-winning movie (and its two sequels). Or maybe you mentioned stunt woman Zoe Bell, who doubled for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill and starred as herself (doing some pretty crazy stunt work atop the hood of a speeding car) in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. Perhaps you even mentioned Witi Ihimaera, a New Zealand native and author of the acclaimed novel The Whale Rider. Maybe you even mentioned the gorgeous landscape or the amazing flora and fauna species. But fashion? Did you, even for a second associate fashion and New Zealand? Chances are the answer to that one is a resounding no.
But the folks at Huffer are vying to carry the New Zealand flag proudly into fashion glory. Going on 11 strong years, the streetwear company combines skate wear and preppy garb for an irreverent and eccentric collection that's forward-minded and wickedly fun. And, after conquering their native land, Australia, Japan and the U.K. (among others), Huffer is now making a spash in the U.S.
Their fall line once again combines quirky patterns and textures for a punk-fan-meets-art-student look which emphasizes out-of-the-box thinking and creative freedom.
Just check out the plaid button-down "Forget" shirt (the second pic from top), which features a rather unique construction. Notice how they not only combine the purple and green plaid for an added quirky factor, but they deliberately chose not to align the stripes, so that the different colored fabrics look like they were haphazadly put together — even though anyone can see that the shirt is otherwise exquisitely tailored. Another wonderful detail is the fact that the shirt's sleeves only go down to one's elbows and have a buttoned cuff — the effect is casual but sassy. The shirt, then, is about creating illusions, playing with preconceived notions, and defying norms — all while executing the design according to a master plan.
Then there's my absolute favorite piece, the "Snapper" jacket, which is made of 100% cotton and a fleece lining in a cool green plaid. It's a mid-length jacket so, unless you're Goliath, it should go past your waist and cover up your apple bottom. I also like that it has a removable belt strap and an extra large hood (I mean, you can reeeaaallly go incognito with this on!). The jacket is not quite a trench or a parka — it's somewhere in between, and tha'ts what makes it so fun (and practical).
Another standout piece is the "Obstruction Crew" (at the top), a 50% wool and 50% acrylic sweater in a Mondrian-esque, color-blocked grid. It's one of the biggest themes for fall (Mondrian-inspired graphics, that is), but I've rarely seen it executed this well. The primary colors used not only have a gorgeously bright quality to them but they, by definition, capture the essence of Mondrian's work.
Huffer People clothing pictured: Obstruction Crew; Forget Shirt; Snapper Jacket. Visit Huffer.co.nz for pricing and retailerinformation.
