Annah Stretton

Annah Stretton
MNZM
Stretton in 2025
BornDecember 1959 (age 66)
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Occupations
Websiteannahstretton.co.nz

Annah Stretton MNZM (born December 1959) is a New Zealand fashion designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Her fashion business grew to 34 stores in New Zealand and Australia, regularly showing at fashion weeks in New Zealand and Australia. Stretton expanded into publishing in 2005, becoming the owner and editor of Her Business, a magazine focused on female entrepreneurs, and Pink Magazine, a breast cancer publication. Stretton has also authored 5 books including Wise Heart: 10 Strategies for Success in Business & Life (2010).

Stretton has been involved in a number of charities, particularly, Reclaim Another Woman,[1] a residential programme for female offenders. She currently chairs the Waikato Women's Refuge board[2] and was a UNICEF NZ board member from 2015 to 2020.[3] Stretton has twice been nominated for New Zealander of the Year,[3] in 2017 and 2019.[4][5] In 2008, she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year's honours for services to fashion, business, and community.[6]

Education

Stretton grew up in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand where she attended Karamu High School.[7] She enrolled in art school and then pursued a degree in accountancy.[8]

In 2022, while pursuing a Master of Social Science (Public Policy) at the University of Waikato, Stretton wrote a dissertation to privilege the voices of incarcerated women as part of a masters in Māori and Indigenous studies.[9]

In 2025, after completing a Master of Visual Arts in photography at WINTEC, Stretton created the RAW Beauty exhibition in collaboration with RAW participants, to illuminate the contributions of women with a history of incarceration through consented imagery.[10]

Career

Stretton first worked at a Waikato clothing company as an accountant.

Stretton launched her fashion label from a dairy farm in Morrinsville, in the Waikato.[11][12] At its peak, the company expanded to 34 stores across New Zealand and Australia.[13] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand moved into accessories and homeware.[14]

In 2004, Stretton debuted on the World of Wearable Art (WOW) stage with Beauty and the Beast. The piece was also displayed for several years at the World of Wearable Art and Classic Car Museum in Nelson. At the 2005 WOW, Stretton entered a piece entitled Reluctant Bride: Bird of Prey. In 2006, she entered Black Tie[15] followed by her 2007 entry, Queen of Hearts. In 2008, Stretton accepted an invitation to join the WOW judging panel.

Stretton showed at New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) annual event between 2002 and 2015 as well as appearing a number of times at Australian Fashion Week.[16]

Philanthropy

In 2014, Stretton set up Reclaim Another Woman (RAW), a reintegrative residential programme to support women leaving prison.[8][11] RAW has been recognised by the New Zealand Department of Corrections for its rehabilitation framework.[17] In 2018, Stretton expanded the programme to RAW on the Inside at Auckland Regional Women's Corrections Facility.[18]

Stretton was invited by the chief executive of Te Whakaruruhau (Waikato Women's Refuge), New Zealand's first Māori women's refuge, to join the board. Stretton has been the chair of the Waikato Women's Refuge board since 2015.[2]

Stretton was on the True Colours Children's Health Trust Board between 2004 and 2009,[19] purchasing a property in the Waikato for the trust's work[20][21] and creating the trust's annual fundraising event, The Long Lunch.

Awards and recognition

  • In 2005, Stretton received the Ernst & Young NZ Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[22] (Retail, Consumer and Industrial Products)
  • In 2006, Honorary Master of Arts in Design, Wintec.[23]
  • Stretton was chair of Fashion Industry New Zealand FINZ from 2006 – 2008.[24]
  • In 2008 Stretton was recognised for her contribution to the community with the Zonta Woman of the Biennium Award.[25]
  • Stretton was awarded New Zealand Order of Merit for services to fashion/business/community in 2008.[6]
  • In 2009, Stretton was the recipient of the Veuve Clicquot business award.[26]
  • In 2015, Stretton was awarded the ASB Social Entrepreneur of the Year award for her work with RAW.[27]
  • In 2017, Stretton was recognised for RAW with the Not For Profit Award at the Waikato Business Awards.[28]
  • Stretton was a semi finalist for New Zealander of the Year Awards in 2018 & 2019.[3]
  • In 2019, Stretton was a recipient for the Zonta 50 Women of Achievement Awards.[29]

Works

  • From Rag Trade to Mag Trade: The Business of Annah Stretton. 2007. Stretton Publishing. Morrinsville, NZ. ISBN 978-0473126629
  • Wise Heart: 10 strategies for success in business & life was published by Random House in 2010.
  • Rock the Boat! 2013. Stretton Publishing. Morrinsville, NZ. ISBN 9780473246334.
  • The RAW truth: an angel on your shoulder. 2019. Stretton Publishing. Morrinsville, NZ. ISBN 9780473475956. The book recounts the experiences of women in the RAW programme and Stretton's involvement in the initiative, aiming to challenge perceptions of recidivist offenders in New Zealand.[30]
  • Grit Before Grace. 2022. Stretton Publishing. Morrinsville, NZ. ISBN 9780473613303.

References

  1. ^ "Fashion designer's rehab programme reaches 80th prisoner". Radio New Zealand (RNZ). Nine to Noon. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Our Board | Advocates for Social Change". Waikato Women's Refuge. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "RAW – Reclaim Another Woman". The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland (Inc). Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Shortlist for 2019 NZer of the Year Award announced | Scoop News". Scoop – New Zealand News. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Meet the New Zealander of the Year nominees". RNZ. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b "The New Zealand New Year Honours List 2008". Scoop – New Zealand News. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Stretton Returns to her Alma Mater (Press Release)". Scoop – New Zealand News. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b Carroll, Melanie (29 March 2020). "Fashion designer Annah Stretton sews an escape plan for women in jail". Stuff. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  9. ^ Shaw, Aimee (12 September 2023). "The life and work of Annah Stretton: Designer on 30 years in business – and why she's fixated on a fashion museum". Stuff. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Raw Beauty | Love the Centre". www.lovethecentre.co.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b Thomson, Margie (5 March 2019). Womankind: New Zealand Women Making a Difference. Photography by Simon Young. Penguin Random House NZ. pp. 222–225. ISBN 978-0143772729.
  12. ^ Walker, Zoe (10 February 2010). "Annah Stretton's edgy debut at RAFW". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  13. ^ "How three generations of women saved a Kiwi fashion legacy". NZ Herald. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  14. ^ Tweed, Mike (11 March 2022). "Annah Stretton moves from grit to grace". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Feature: Annah Stretton At Air NZ Fashion Week | Scoop News". Scoop – New Zealand News. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Fashion Week 08: Annah Stretton". thebigidea.nz. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Annah Stretton: women, meth and incarceration". Radio New Zealand (RNZ). 19 June 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Annah Stretton: bringing hope to women in prison". Radio New Zealand (RNZ). 20 June 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Our People | True Colours Children's Health Trust". www.truecolours.org.nz. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Annah Stretton | True Colours Children's Health Trust". www.truecolours.org.nz. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  21. ^ Robertson, Alison (2 December 2019). "True Colours – one of a kind". Business News. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  22. ^ Godfrey, Kelly (19 October 2015). "Annah Stretton takes out EY Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award for RAW". Global Women. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  23. ^ "Honorary award recipients". Wintec. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Finz's New Chairperson | Scoop News". Scoop – New Zealand News. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Awards & Scholarships". Zonta International District 16. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  26. ^ Harris, Catherine (11 May 2009). "A toast to Annah". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  27. ^ Ryan, Holly (17 November 2015). "'Typical Kiwi' wins award". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  28. ^ "2017 Westpac Waikato Business Award Winners | Waikato Chamber of Commerce". www.waikatochamber.co.nz. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  29. ^ Zonta New Zealand (November 2019). "100 Women of Achievement Recognised by Zonta NZ" (PDF). Zonta 100 Women of Achievement Media Release. p. 11.
  30. ^ "Annah Stretton campaigns to publish RAW book". NZ Herald. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
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