Designer: Denise L'Éstrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper
Based: Auckland

WORLD was established in Auckland in 1989 by Denise L'Estrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper. Fuelled by their energy and passion, their vision and work has seen their label develop from a cupboard at the back of an arcade, to one of the leading fashion houses in New Zealand. Certainly WORLD is this country's fashion house that is most widely regarded as being "avant-garde". Dr.Peter Shand, Art History Curator.Designer: Denise L'Éstrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper
Based: Auckland

WORLD was established in Auckland in 1989 by Denise L'Estrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper. Fuelled by their energy and passion, their vision and work has seen their label develop from a cupboard at the back of an arcade, to one of the leading fashion houses in New Zealand. Certainly WORLD is this country's fashion house that is most widely regarded as being "avant-garde". Dr.Peter Shand, Art History Curator.Both designers returned to New Zealand in the 1980's from London. Born here, L'Estrange-Corbet was a graduate of the London College of Fashion, having specialised in women's tailoring, Hong Kong born Hooper had worked for the then unknown John Galliano, as well as Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garcons), Michiko Koshino and Kansai Yamamoto. They were both working in retail in Auckland, and bored out of their minds, the initial idea for WORLD was hatched at a bus stop late one night.

Photo by Michael Ng/Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2008

21/09/08