New Zealand fashion label Sylvester is to close its doors.
The label will finish trading after the delivery of its upcoming summer collections, saying challenging economic conditions have made it impossible to continue.
“We are sad to announce that after giving it our all, we have decided to wind up the Sylvester brand,” an announcement from the team behind the label shared.
“We are so proud of all that we have created, but the hard reality is that the economic climate is so much tougher than we anticipated. We knew trying to build a business would be tough, but just trying to keep afloat in this current climate has been too intensely stressful for our entire team.”
Sylvester is an off-shoot of well-known brand Kate Sylvester, which closed in 2024. After well-known Auckland designer Kate Sylvester and her husband and business partner Wayne Conway wrapped up their label after 31 years in business, the couple’s three sons, Tom, Ike and Cosmo decided to relaunch the label Sylvester themselves.
Sylvester originally existed as a slightly more casual and relaxed sister collection to the Kate Sylvester line. Recent collections have focused on modern tailoring, knitwear, structured denim and striped layering separates.
“When we started this, Kate & Wayne made it clear to us that a business must pay for itself and we listened,” the announcement reads. “Our number one commitment is to our team and suppliers, to do right by them. We will trade through with our beautiful Summer collection until Christmas and then we will say our final goodbyes in February.”
The team shared they were grateful for the ongoing support of its community. “The most rewarding aspect of this adventure has been the love, support and enthusiasm from you, our community, our huddle. The Huddle represents heads together, arms around each other. It celebrates the bond between friends and family. Always.”
The brand’s final collection will see new arrivals landing in the brand’s stores in Newmarket, Commercial Bay, Wellington and Christchurch weekly prior to Christmas, before closing for good in February.
