End of era as fashion store closes

After 25 years dressing women in handmade boutique clothing, Nelson designer Robyn Reynolds is closing her store, and stepping into an entirely new creative life.At 67, and about to become a grandmother, Reynolds says the timing feels right.

Her lease for her Church St studio is set to expire in March, and she doesn’t want to endure another Nelson winter.

Instead, she planned to make herself available to family and devote her time to painting, a passion she said she had only recently discovered but felt deeply drawn to.

“I just think that’s really exciting at my age to finish work, and then, have the excitement to go on to something else and really see where it takes me.”

For a quarter century, Reynolds has sold Nelson-made boutique clothing from her studios and at the Nelson Saturday Market, building a devoted following that stretches across New Zealand and overseas.

Her garments are known for their vibrant colour, quality fabrics and longevity — pieces she said were designed to last, not disappear with trends.

It was the women Reynolds has dressed and encouraged that she would miss most.

“[They] come in and they’re unsure about themselves, and then they put something on and then I say ‘oh, let me fit it on you.’ And they just love that,” she said.

“It’s making women happy and making them feel confident and knowing that they’re not going to see 50 million tops or dresses the same.”

Reynolds discovered her talent for fashion later in life, not beginning until her late-30s. “I never thought I was good at anything. I was a late bloomer,” she said.

Before a long stint living in London, she moved to Wellington, where she sold hats and other garments in the Manners Mall on Friday nights.

She later formed Fin Clothing with a screen printer, selling at markets and from a studio on Cuba St.

Realising her passion and talent for fashion design, Reynolds moved to Nelson to study fashion and textiles at NMIT.

Go Clothing was opened on Bank Lane, with a loyal local following allowing her to hire staff and transition into a fully-fledged fashion designer.

After 12 years, she moved her business to Bridge St and rebranded as Robyn Reynolds Clothing. She moved into her “dream studio” on Church St before Covid.

Retail had become tougher in recent years, and even harder for local artists.

“The council should do something to help local artists,” she said. “A grant to help top up rent if you’ve been in business two, three years and proven you’ve got something viable.

“I think it would help keep Nelson vibrant.”

When she decided to close, she put the business on the market. It nearly sold twice, but ultimately, Reynolds decided she was comfortable closing it on her own terms.

With the current economic climate, she said she thought “people are a bit scared”.

“But I’m okay about that, and it still means that my label is intact … it’ll have a memory of how I’ve left it.”

She planned to take her sewing machines home and continue making clothing on a much smaller scale.

Loyal customers were already asking if she would accept custom orders or hold occasional pop-up shops. When they heard she was closing, the orders starting pouring in.

“I’m unsure about my future, but I feel really happy. I’ve had a few tears and I will have more, but it’s the end of an era for me.”

Caption: Nelson fashion designer Robyn Reynolds is closing her shop of Church St after 25 years of making and selling her designs.Braden Fastier / Nelson Mail

By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail