In the quietly inventive landscape of Aotearoa fashion – where sustainability, sentiment, and storytelling increasingly sit at the heart of design – Rhoda Nunn stands out as a label of rare intimacy and intent.
Founded by Pōneke-based designer Emma Muir, the slow fashion practice offers garments that feel less like trend pieces and more like personal artefacts: designed to be worn, lived in, and ultimately passed on.
Named after the protagonist of The Odd Women by George Gissing, Rhoda Nunn carries the spirit of its namesake – a woman defined by independence, thoughtfulness, and quiet rebellion. That ethos runs through every aspect of Muir’s work. Lingering between romance and restraint, optimism and nostalgia, her designs find beauty in the everyday: the fleeting, the familiar, the here and now.
At the core of the brand is a produce less, produce better philosophy. Rooted firmly in Aotearoa, Rhoda Nunn honours locality and connection at every stage of production. Fabrics and finishings are carefully sourced from New Zealand suppliers, while garments are made to order or produced in small runs – shaped by Muir’s own hands or in collaboration with local artists, seamstresses, and printing houses. Natural fibres are favoured for their feel, longevity, and ease of wear, while repurposed vintage and deadstock fabrics are used wherever possible, lending each piece its own sense of history.
This emphasis on time – how garments are made, worn, and remembered – is what gives Rhoda Nunn its quiet power
Among the brand’s most recognisable designs is the now-cult Off-Cut Tee: a classic t-shirt reimagined with an asymmetrical bikini overlay and delicate neck ties that mimic the real thing. Equal parts playful and practical, it perfectly captures Muir’s ability to elevate the everyday. First garnering attention on the runway, the piece sold out almost immediately, later returning as a limited-edition baby tee crafted from off-cuts – a subtle nod to sustainability without sacrificing desirability.
Rhoda Nunn’s rise has been marked by notable moments on some of the country’s most influential runways. Muir’s designs have featured in the as we watch the world go by shows, Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa 2025, and New Zealand Fashion Week 2025, where one of the Off-Cut Bikini Baby Tees appeared in the Into The Archives show – a fitting placement for a garment already positioned as a future classic. Earlier in the year, the brand also drew acclaim at Āhua’s Mark of the Maker, where craftsmanship and concept took centre stage.
Off the runway, Rhoda Nunn has found favour with stylists and tastemakers alike. Long-time FashionNZ friend Jessie Kirk has championed the brand, styling both the Off-Cut Tee and one of Muir’s signature skirts – further cementing its place among those who value depth, intention, and individuality in their wardrobe.
Rhoda Nunn’s relevance isn’t confined to local runways – it taps into a wider global fashion consciousness. When Emma Chamberlain recently released her 2026 fashion predictions video, she pointed to the return of “blue ribbon”–esque details – brooches, pin-ons, and sentimental embellishments – as key to the next phase of everyday dressing. The kind of adornment that feels personal, slightly nostalgic, and intentionally styled rather than ornamental for ornament’s sake.
It was hard not to immediately think of Rhoda Nunn. Long before the trend cycle caught up, Muir had already been exploring this language through delicate ribboned accents and pin-on details that blur the line between clothing and keepsake. In the context of Chamberlain’s prediction, Rhoda Nunn feels quietly prophetic – proof that even from Pōneke, the brand is operating a step ahead of the curve. Rather than reacting to trends, Muir intuitively designs toward emotion and memory, which is perhaps why her work so often aligns with where fashion is heading next.
In a global moment obsessed with “personal style” over polished perfection, Rhoda Nunn’s approach feels not just timely, but instinctive – a reminder that the most forward-thinking design often comes from looking inward, not outward.
Despite the growing recognition, Rhoda Nunn remains grounded in its original ethos: care, contemplation, and connection. In a fashion climate often driven by speed and spectacle, Emma Muir offers something quieter – and arguably more radical. Clothing that doesn’t shout, but lingers. Clothing that stays.
Rhoda Nunn is one to watch – not because it’s chasing the future, but because it understands the value of time.
