Stephen Richardson

I was born in Canada to English parents but as a family we lived all over the place, including Tokyo where I got the bug for pop culture (especially comics and packaging). After that I moved to London and New York, where I started in fashion and got the idea to create my own label. Then when I came back to Auckland I studied at AUT, started selling t-shirts and giant cushions (very practical) at friends' stores and began working freelance.

Apart from developing my own brand and store (Richard…son), I’ve been lucky enough to work with loads of great people on cool projects like illustration for Huffer and Metro Magazine, skateboard design for a UK company by the name of Blueprint and puppet design for the new Mint Chicks video. And I’ve scored some great coverage from international media including Wallpaper and Sportswear International. My label even won a Metro award last year for 'best t-shirt'.

Having started my own brand from the ground up and worked the floor of my own store, I have had an insider's understanding of how customers react and relate to products, both as a designer and a retailer. In turn I have learned valuable lessons on what works and what doesn’t in the public domain.

When I’m not using my faux wood 80’s Boston electric pencil sharpener, or stooped over my computer, I dust off my old film cameras and moonlight as a photographer. Failing that I search the net obsessively for Fiat Pandas and Swatch watches.