When two Christchurch-born creatives join forces, the result is bound to be something special.
Ahead of their highly anticipated show at the Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival, fashion designer Caitlin Crisp and Mary Outram (@mary_oh_), founder of body care brand BONNIE, open up about what it means to bring their worlds together on home soil.
For Caitlin, it’s a heartfelt return to where her journey began – the city where she first learned to sew and dream big. For Mary, it’s a full-circle moment that blends her lifelong love of fashion with the beauty brand she’s built from the ground up. In this conversation, the pair talk about finding synergy between style and skin, the power of creative collaboration, and why celebrating community – and a little hometown magic – is at the heart of their show.
Your collaboration is framed as a “return to your roots” in Christchurch. What does presenting in your home city mean to each of you personally – and how does the local context influence the creative choices in this show?
MARY: I’m really proud to be doing this here in Christchurch, it’s home. BONNIE’s not even a year old yet, so to already be part of something like this, alongside Caitlin and such an incredible team, feels pretty amazing. Fashion has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve attended shows and Fashion Weeks for years, and I’ve worked as a fashion creator for a long time, so to now have my own brand linked to this incredible world feels really special. It makes me proud… proud of what we’ve built in our first year, and proud that BONNIE has found such a natural connection to fashion.
CAITLIN: Christchurch will always hold a very special place in my heart. It’s where I learnt to walk, talk, and most importantly, sew. My friends and family in Christchurch believed in me before I moved to the ‘big smoke’, they have and always will be my biggest supporters. I want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable at the show — we’re in Christchurch, not New York after all! I want the audience to see themselves on that catwalk, or at least someone they recognise. Our clothes are designed for women to wear in their everyday lives as well as across a wide range of fun and fab occasions, and it’s important to me that we present the range with that in mind.
Caitlin, your Resort ’25 collection is described as “nautical by nature, feminine by design… relaxed, yet refined” with coastal textures and playful prints. Mary, BONNIE brings “skin-first, dermatologically tested” body care to the runway. How did you two find synergy between fashion and beauty in this collaboration – and what was the conversation like when blending your brand languages?
CAITLIN: Mary and I have always had these two passions — beauty and fashion. She modelled for me at my first show in Christchurch as part of my graduate collection. I’ll never forget just before the show, she helped me fix up my bronzer and make up — she made me feel 10x more confident in myself. We share a love and desire to help women feel their most confident, and for me that looks like glowing skin and a fab outfit! We are two girls from a small town with big ideas and dreams, and have always supported each other in those ambitions, so working together on a show like this in our hometown is very exciting for me.
MARY: It happened really naturally… BONNIE and Caitlin Crisp share the same energy at their core: confident femininity, lightness and ease. Caitlin’s resort pieces are a celebration of summer and softness, and that’s exactly what BONNIE beauty is about too — glowing skin that looks healthy, fresh and real.
I’ve always felt fashion and beauty go hand in hand. They both tell a story about mood, confidence, and how you want to present yourself in the world each day. For BONNIE, fashion has always played a role in how we tell our story. From campaign styling to colour palettes, it’s never been just about the products and what they do — it’s about creating a feeling. Working with Caitlin felt like such a natural extension of that. Her designs carry that same balance of femininity and ease… a feeling we always try to capture through BONNIE.
The show promises not just clothes and beauty, but “a few extra surprises”. Without giving too much away, what one unexpected element are you most excited about – and why did you decide to include it?
BOTH: We can’t give away too much, but there are a few little moments people may not expect — including a few familiar local faces and maybe even a bit of conversation after the runway. It’s all about making the show feel connected and personal, and something people can really feel part of.
For emerging creatives in Christchurch (and nationwide) who look up to local brands making global moves: what is one key piece of advice you would each share – based on your journeys – especially at this stage when you’re combining forces and amplifying your hometown story?
CAITLIN: To always lift up others in business and those with big ideas and dreams — these dreams and ambitions are made possible by support, encouragement and collaborations. Wouldn’t you rather play a positive part in someone’s journey rather than sitting back and watching it? Of course, it’s always a good feeling to achieve your goals on your own, but I can promise you it’s a lot more fun sharing in that journey and success with others — I’m looking forward to a glass of bubbles with Mary to celebrate when that curtain closes!
MARY: Just start. BONNIE lived in my head for years before I launched it, and the biggest shift was taking that first step. Be consistent, stay curious, and surround yourself with people who believe in what you’re building and help you feel motivated and encouraged (you really need those cheerleaders on the toughest days). Being from Christchurch — or anywhere outside a big city — isn’t a disadvantage; it gives you a realness and perspective that people connect with.
Catch Caitlin Crisp and BONNIE’s Mary Oh at the Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival – where local style, beauty, and heart take centre stage. TICKETS HERE
PLUS Hear Mary Oh on the Fashion in Focus: ‘How’d You Get Your Start’ panel discussion before the show! TICKETS HERE
