State of Grace

State of Grace is a New Zealand fashion success story. Designer Sherilyn Catchpole began her career as a theatrical costumier, an experience that has influenced her fresh fashion perspective. Sherilyn’s designs fuse assured detailing, form and colour with luxurious quality.

Fluid draping creates graceful forms and structured tailoring defines sharp silhouettes. Innovative construction, like the unexpected placement of a seam, modernises vintage inspired styles. Delicate lace, beading and embroidery provide feminine detailing and contrast with the bolder elements of design. Colours range from the subdued to the confident and distinctive patterns punctuate each season’s collection.

Quality is a hallmark of the State of Grace label and a persistent attention. Fabrics are predominantly rich silks, cottons and wool. Precision cutting, tailoring and the accuracy of construction ensure a perfect fit. And each garment is proudly made in New Zealand.

State of Grace pairs femininity with the flux of fashion, to create clothing that enhances a woman.

State of Grace’s History

Sherilyn Catchpole formally trained at Wellington Polytechnic. Following her studies she worked as a costumier for film and theatre, and sold her clothing designs.

1992 - The first, small State of Grace boutique opens in Grey Lynn, rapidly attracting a loyal following.

1993 - State of Grace receives their first wholesale account in Wellington, and a second account in Melbourne.

1994 - The thriving business leases extra space to expand their workroom.

1996 - The State of Grace flagship store opens on Jervois Road Ponsonby.

1998 - The brand grows to ten wholesale accounts in Australasia.

1999 - As part of the New Generation show, State of Grace makes their successful debut at the Australian Fashion Week.

2000 - State of Grace is invited, again to show at the Australian Fashion Week and secures twenty Australasian stockists.

2001- State of Grace participates in the New Zealand Group Collections – a new concept for Australian Fashion Week. The show is extremely successful and one of the highlights of the Fashion Week.

2001- At the first New Zealand Fashion Week, State of Grace presents their Winter 2002 Collection. This is the brand’s first major solo show and is sponsored by ‘Venus’ Gillette for Women. And in support of local retail, State of Grace participates in the first Ponsonby Fashion Fringe Festival.

2002 - An exhibit at the Australian Fashion Week results in five new Australian accounts. State of Grace’s signature feminine designs also impress buyers from Mimosa in Saudi Arabia and secure the label’s first big northern hemisphere order.

2002 - To a full house at Auckland’s Town Hall. State of Grace’s winter 2003 Collection wins rave reviews from visiting Fashion Week journalists. Colin McDowell of the Sunday Times wrote, “A foxy yet ladylike collection” and Patty Huntington, Women’s Wear Daily, likened the clothes to Paris Couture.

2003 - Greater interest in the brand is created, when they exhibit as part of a Trade New Zealand promotion at the Hong Kong Fashion Week.

2003 - State of Grace exhibits at the Australian Fashion Week and previews their Summer 2004 Collection on the catwalk at Sydney’s Cruise Bar; nine more Australian stores buy the collection.

2003 - ‘A Tale of Mythical Sirens and Sunken Treasure’ (winter collection 2004) debuts at the New Zealand Fashion Week. The label receives unanimous praise and again, attracts attention from international buyers.

2004 - The workroom shifts from Newton to Eden Terrace. The label now has thirty Australasian stockists and State of Grace focuses exclusively on expanding the wholesale side of the business.

2005 - Sherilyn designs costumes for the Silo Theatre production of ‘Suddenly Last Summer’.

2007- State of Grace debuts their Winter 2008 Collection, at New Zealand Fashion Week.

2008 - The label works with American agent Patricia Abraham to gain accounts in Los Angeles. The brand also picks up another account in the Netherlands.

2008 - State of Grace is invited, along with nine other top New Zealand fashion labels to design a rug for ‘Designer Rugs’, a charity fund raiser.

2009 - With the success of the wholesale accounts, State of Grace returns to retail, with a new store in Kingsland with an attached workroom.

2011 - Sherilyn is invited by the Campaign for Wool, as part of the inaugural New Zealand Wool Week, to design a garment themed around the iconic New Zealand black singlet.