LAUREN TAPPER

INTRODUCING LAUREN, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER OF HARRIS TAPPER - A WOMEN'S READY-TO-WEAR BRAND OFFERING SARTORIAL CHOICES TO SERVE THE MODERN, PROFESSIONAL LIFE. HARRIS TAPPER WAS FOUNDED IN 2018 IN AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND. EVERY COLLECTION EVOLVES WITH EACH SEASON TO DELIVER AN OFF-BEAT YET CONSIDERED TAKE ON WORKWEAR STAPLES, MASCULINE TAILORING AND HARD-WORKING PIECES WHICH CHAMPION THE WEARER'S INDEPENDENT, CAREER-FOCUSED AND MULTIFACETED LIFE.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU STARTED HARRIS TAPPER?
CUT MY TEETH WORKING IN FASHION PR AND VISUAL MERCHANDISING, BEFORE MEETING MY FRIEND AND FUTURE BUSINESS PARTNER, SARAH HARRIS GOULD, WHEN WE WORKED TOGETHER ON THE OPENING OF A GLOBAL FASHION RETAILER INTO NEW ZEALAND.

WHAT’S A NORMAL WEEK-DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
WE'RE BASED IN AUCKLAND CENTRAL AND USUALLY OUR WEEKS CONSIST OF MEETINGS, FITTINGS FOR THE NEXT COLLECTION WE'RE SAMPLING, OR PRE-PRODUCTION FITTINGS AND FINALISING THE CHECKLISTS BEFORE HANDING OVER THE COLLECTION TO OUR MANUFACTURING PARTNERS, THEN PLANNING FOR FUTURE COLLECTIONS, VISITS TO LOCAL SUPPLIERS AND VIDEO CALLS WITH OFF-SHORE SUPPLIERS, AND LOTS OF EMAILS. EACH DAY IS DIFFERENT.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE WORK LIFE BALANCE?
I THINK ANYONE WHO OWNS THEIR OWN BUSINESS WILL KNOW THERE'S PINCH POINTS WHERE YOU HAVE NO WORK-LIFE BALANCE, BUT ALSO THE BEAUTY IN THAT IS YOU CAN TAKE MOMENTS WHEN YOU NEED TO, AND CREATE YOUR OWN STRUCTURE THAT SUITS YOUR LIFE. I KNOW IF I’M HAVING VERY FULL-ON WEEKS, I CAN TAKE A BREAK WHEN I NEED TO AT A LATER TIME. I FIND ROUTINE IN MY DAILY RITUALS HELPS TO KEEP ME CALM AND CENTRED - DEFINITELY DAILY YOGA.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
I FEEL FULFILLED EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND WHILST SOME DAYS ARE INCREDIBLY HARD AND THE PRESSURE CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING AT TIMES, I LOVE THE SMALL MOMENTS THAT GIVE ME JOY. I LOVE WHEN WE'RE IN A FITTING FOR A NEW SAMPLE AND I KNOW IT WE'VE NAILED THAT PIECE, MAKING SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL THAT BALANCES PERFECTLY AND JUST FEELS RIGHT. I'M CHASING THAT FEELING EVERY DAY.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO SOMEONE STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
YOU KNOW YOUR OWN BRAND AND BUSINESS BETTER THAN ANYONE. TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT AND WORK WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WHO GET IT.