About Obi

 

 

Obi is the thinking woman’s label, reflecting the new ‘Pacific cool’ with subtle colours and textures creating a quiet integrity.   Thoughtful, measured and intelligent design is evident in the unique cuts and styling with a distinct edginess that comes from living in a country with a newly emerging sense of self.

The Obi woman represents the contemporary unfettered spirit that still exists within New Zealand.  She is confident, composed and enigmatic.  A woman of substance.

The Obi collections are known for combining beautiful European fabrics with trims inspired in texture and colour by the country’s unique landscape.  The ‘proudly  made in New Zealand’ statement on the swing tag is not only a statement of origin, but of originality.

Obi  is one of four brands from High Society, a New Zealand based fashion company with a 40 year history.  Others include  Catalyst, Chocolat and Mosaic.

Designers

 

Obi is designed by Mary-Ellen Prendergast.  She has been with High Society since 2001 and has been Obi’s principal designer since 2006.  Mary-Ellen graduated in Fashion Design from Wellington Polytechnic in 1996, and that year was a finalist in the NZ Benson & Hedges Fashion Award for avant-garde and New Zealand wool designers.  After working for leading New Zealand designers,  Mary-Ellen headed to London where she broadened her skills in a successful commercial design company.  She returned to New Zealand in 2000 and after further study in film at Auckland University she joined High Society.

In recent years Mary-Ellen has begun to infuse Obi with her own unique and passionate style, under-pinned by her two key sources of inspiration – New Zealand landscape and culture.  Our distinctive landscape evokes a certain calm aura and provides an endless palette to draw from.  Mary-Ellen loves nothing more than to delve in our burgeoning arts scene and especially admires the innovative and challenging productions of smaller theatre companies.  She is increasingly influenced by New Zealand artists and has recently begun collaborations with glassblowers and painters..