Sonya Smith is one of Canterbury’s best known and most decorated fashion designers. She has come through the ranks of emerging designers to where she has today forged and consolidated her place in the Christchurch fashion industry.

Beginnings

Sonya began her design career in her early 20’s by creating and making garments for her friends, and so grew her confidence and her flair for the unusual.

Self taught, except for her pattern making skills which she learnt in Nelson, her career started to really take off after winning the Benson and Hedges Lifestyle Award in 1995.

From that time, to the present, she has built on her success to open more doors to further achievements, giving back to the industry wherever she could.

Interests

Sonya’s other passion in life is the arts, in which she has dressed court theatre productions, and done pre production film work, dressing many personalities and dignitaries who work in the creative fields from opera to mainstream band work.

New Challenges

With the launch of her new web site, Sonya aims to widen her field markets, pursue wholesale into the retail sector, and provide greater accessibility for her International clientele.