Designer Adrian Hailwood has a thing for shoes

He does a fine screen-printed T-shirt but designer Adrian Hailwood does the expensive garb as well. He talks to ANA SAMWAYS about nautical themes and shoes in the lead-up to his second solo outing at New Zealand Fashion Week.

Age: 32

Status: Single and fancy free

Where did you grow up? Lower Hutt

Favourite film? Orlando

Favourite music? I am a rock boy really. Kings of Leon, The White Stripes, The Strokes and Loretta Lynn

Favourite place in NZ? Great Barrier Island

Education? Bachelor of Visual Communications from Wellington Polytech

The car you drive? Mitsubishi station wagon - functional not glamorous.

Do you use your real name? Yes. Adrian William Hailwood.

Is the fashion industry as bitchy as it seems? Not at all. There seems to be this idea that there's a "this person hates that person" kind of thing, but that's not my experience. I find other designers really supportive, not competitive. We're all busy doing our own thing.

How will your new range be different? Last year was a Moroccan, Marrakesh themed show. This year there's more a focus on individual pieces. And more shoes.

The best part of being involved in Fashion Week? Doing the show. Putting a whole collection up there, selecting the music the models, bringing it altogether for a live performance. Riding on the Fashion Week energy is a good buzz.

The worst? There is none. I guess there could be pressure without a sponsor to cover your costs. I've thankfully got a sponsor.

Name drop it then. Absolut.

What do you think of the new venue at the Alinghi and Team New Zealand sheds in the Viaduct? It'll be much better. The town hall got a bit staid. This space is more cohesive and will work better for fashion. And it's on the waterfront!

Will there be a flurry of navy blue and white sailors suits on the catwalk? Not from me.

How do you find being one of the few NZ male designers? I don't really notice it. The man-woman divide isn't so obvious in the fashion industry. Here it's small and not many male designers, but internationally it'd be near on 50:50.

How important is it for cool thin people to wear your clothes? I don't design for cool thin people.

Come on, most designer garb is on the teeny side of weeny ... Most designers do a size 14, some do a 16. But if asked, most designers will make something for a customer in their size. Zambesi have being doing this for years.

Where do you stock? Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, London, Singapore, LA and Dubai.

What is the worst fashion mistake? Ill-fitting clothes.

What do you wear? I dress like a normal kiwi guy - jeans hoodies, jean jackets - but I like dressy shoes. I just bought some red Vivienne Westwood brogues in London.

Very Nice.