Our People

She started 40 years ago as the house model and now she owns the company; Robyn Hall is one of New Zealand fashion's greatest success stories at the helm of one of the country's longest-running fashion businesses.

She has now celebrated over 45 years with High Society - now producing the labels Catalyst, Obi and Chocolat.

Hall's business innovation was evident from the start and in her early days with the company she was instrumental in introducing the mini skirt to New Zealand in 1965. She walked up and down Queen St, Auckland in a mini, pantyhose (which were not available in New Zealand at the time, only stockings were) and Courrèges white boots. This not only gained the attention of every passer-by, the media were quick to photograph this exciting foreign phenomenon, fresh from swinging London and Hall's picture appeared in major newspapers. Pretty soon, every young woman wanted a mini skirt!

There have been many achievements since, but Hall is particularly proud of the way the company broke into the Australian market in 1997.

All four labels now have strong customer bases throughout Australia and in 2000 High Society won a prestigious Trade New Zealand Export Award in recognition of growing export sales 500 percent in three years. Australia now accounts for 45 percent of High Society's sales.

This was completely by design and Hall's flexible business strategies - shaping the company and the labels to suit the market - have kept High Society going during the tough times when many other companies haven't made it.

Hall has always focused on the business side of fashion and says the excitement she felt at joining the company hasn't diminished with the years.

"Every season you get to re-invent yourself and you live and die by the ranges you produce," she says.

Strong management practices, retention and development of key staff, listening to the labels' agents and retailers and having three labels with quite different markets have been the strategies to grow the business.

Gloria joined the business in December 2010. Gloria has a wealth of experience in Chartered Accountancy as has worked with prestigious firms such as Chapmans Chartered Accountants, and Keith Goodall and Associates.

Gloria brings a steady hand and strong sense of professionalism to her work.

During the thirty eight years Gloria has spent in Chartered Accountancy, her HSL experience is the first time she has worked in the ‘ragtrade’, and her wardrobe is certainly enjoying the experience.

She two nearly-grown sons, and an empty fridge.

Anita has represented High Society as National Sales Manager since January 2008, after ten years spent working with other industry notables such as Hart Manufacturing.

Originally brought into the Company to promote and showcase the Obi and Chocolat brands, Anita’s portfolio has now grown to include the overall sales strategy of High Society, and the representation of all three HSL labels.

As well as the pre-requisite ‘passion for fashion’, Anita’s strengths are the strong rapport she has built with her clients over the past fifteen years, a strong business sense and a keen commercial eye.

Anita travels throughout New Zealand showing the seasonal collections, visiting clients and promoting the labels, as well as juggling a hectic home life with her three children, aged nine, six and one.

Sarah joined High Society in 2003, and since then the company has received constant feedback that she is a ‘star’.

With a full plate managing both the dispatch and customer services for over two hundred accounts throughout Australasia – Sarah carries out her work with diligence and good humour, and is renowned for going the ‘extra mile’ for her customers.

Mondays can be full-on for Sarah when the email and phone run hot with customer enquiries, but Sarah answers with a smile and a big measure of good fun.

Sarah also manages the recuts of top selling styles based on demand and wherever possible tries to carry sufficient stock to meet requirements.