Kerrie Hughes

Kerrie Hughes studied Clothing and Textiles at Wellington Polytechnic, 1978-79 and then attained an M.A. in Fashion at St. Martins School of Art, London, graduating in 1988.

Between 1980 – 82 Kerrie set up and ran the shop ‘Svelte’, Cuba St, Wellington in partnership with Di Jennings and later in Auckland. In 1986 Kerrie returned to Wellington and opened ‘Siren’ in Ghuznee St before leaving on an arts/craft council grant to study in London. In 1990 she opened the wholesale/retail shop ‘Idol’ in Soho, London, in partnership with Penny Meachin. The Idol label also sold through Liberty’s, Harvey Nichols, Whistles, Browns, Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Charavari as well as other stores in Europe.

Idol clothes were worn on several TV shows including Absolutely Fabulous and Friends, and are in the collections of The Victoria and Albert Museum, Te Papa, and the Dowse Museums, and have featured in Vogue,Tatler and Elle magazines.

2019, Kerrie had a solo show at Aratoi in Masterton, Saga, 40 Mile Bush, which reflected the rural epic of her ancestors who came to NZ from ‘Old World Zeland’ in Denmark to settle in the Wairarapa.

Kerrie has been one of the World of Wearable Arts judges.

She lives and works in Eastbourne, New Zealand.

Solo Exhibitions

Group Exhibitions

Following a very successful exhibition that ended in December 2022 the gallery has sold all of Kerrie’s work. Please enquire about future sales.