About Possum New Zealand
About the Designer
Exclusivity of Design
Possum New Zealand on TV
Possum New Zealand's Press
Who is Ms Possum?
What our customers say about us
About the Company: Possum New Zealand
We make everything here in New Zealand and as manufacturers of our own products, we sell direct to clients from all over the world.
And that is what sets Possum New Zealand apart. We do not buy in someone else’s goods to resell like most New Zealand based websites. We sell what we design and what we make, and our designs are original and copyrighted.
It’s a small, niche, New Zealand business, doing specialised things out of New Zealand’s finest natural materials.
Possum New Zealand has a solid infrastructure from which to grow and expand globally and that is quite exciting after eight years of developing the business.
To make an item of beauty and object of desire out of an ecological pest is an amazing exercise. Yes, we call our possum products, eco fur, as we believe that combining environmentalism with commercialism is the most successful way of controlling an imported pest that is damaging our forest and fauna, as well as our native birdlife.
Add to the mix other indigenous New Zealand raw materials such as spotty Friesian cow skin, bobbly babylamb and luxurious sheepskin and you have the Possum New Zealand mix and match combos that are lately infiltrating the product ranges.
From fashion to décor to footwear, we are proud to bring you integrated ranges of the highest quality products all made in New Zealand, by Possum New Zealand. Back to Top
About the Designer: Teresa Chen-Angliss
Teresa is a professionally trained clothing designer who was born and educated in Auckland, New Zealand where she graduated from Design College.
“I had always wanted to be a Designer. I could draw before I could write. I made clothes for my toy dolls and everyone else’s dolls and sewed my first complete outfit at 11 years old. Every spare minute, I was cutting, sewing, and experimenting with patterns. I loved the creativity of it all and it became an obsession. I then made clothes for myself, for my friends, and for anyone that asked while still at high school. Before I was formally trained, I’d largely worked out my own techniques.”
Throughout her design career, Teresa has been responsible for the fashion illustration, designing, styling, pattern making and production of a wide range of fashion labels which include the following:
- Cue (Pumperdink Fashions)
- Christian Dior (El Jay Fashions)
- Chandler House (Inhouse label)
- Queens (Society Fashions)
“I loved the world of haute couture and I was privileged to work with the fabrics, patterns and notions of Christian Dior as this label was then made under licence in New Zealand. The elegance and perfection of this brand has influenced my work greatly throughout my career.”
Teresa also freelance designed and constructed patterns for other fashion houses, launched her own Menswear label, specialised in bridal gowns and custom made evening wear, as well as being involved in many interior design projects.
“Over the years, I have fitted a vast array of female body shapes and came to understand that most women have huge self esteem issues, no matter how gorgeous or confident they seem. I want to make women stunningly beautiful in their own eyes and in the eyes of other people. Their whole demeanour changes when they realise they look fantastic – and I feel happy to have had a part in this transformation."
Then came the establishment of two Auckland CBD retail leather stores which meant styling a few of the garment ranges she imported, as the target market became younger and trendier.
The popularity of possum fur was also gaining ascendancy and it was obvious this medium was no longer relegated to kitsch souvenirs. But retailing by day and manufacturing possum collars by night was proving challenging.
Unexpectedly at this time, she was made an offer she could not refuse for the booming retail leather business and this paved the way for a niche possum fur manufacturing business to be established and for the persona of Ms Possum to come into being.
“By then, I had designed and produced in many different mediums but possum fur is individually hand crafted and this has been the most satisfying material I have ever worked with as every hide is unique. I had to learn old furrier techniques while combining these skills with the discipline and technicality of tailored construction.”
This has made what Teresa does as quite unique in New Zealand. She designs, pattern cuts and constructs her own creations and is recognised as being one of very few, if not the only, fully trained Fur Designers in New Zealand.
She has also branched out into knitwear design for Possum New Zealand’s possum merino woollen range and the latest foray is into possum trimmed sheepskin and cow skin footwear.
“A lot of people call themselves Designers, but they can’t draw, can’t draft a pattern or they can’t sew. It takes years of practical experience to optimise one’s skills and to achieve excellence in every aspect of production. I am proud to provide the creative input into everything made here at Possum New Zealand.”
Eight years on after Possum New Zealand was established, Teresa remains passionate about engineering the best possible quality for her clients and invites them to view her unique ranges that are uncompromisingly New Zealand inspired and 100% New Zealand pure. Click here to read how Teresa became 'Ms Possum'Back to Top
 Ms Possum's Latest Television Appearance!
Level 2, 200 Victoria St West, Auckland City
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Possum New Zealand’s Exclusivity of Design
Possum New Zealand’s designs are original and copyrighted. All production processes are undertaken in New Zealand. Possum New Zealand has an ongoing commitment to product development, and prides itself on its innovative approach. Every style is painstakingly formulated to ensure the highest standards of quality and fit. This has resulted in large expenditure of time and resources.
For this reason, Possum New Zealand has and will continue to pursue legal recourse on any individual/organisation deliberately plagiarising its designs or concepts.
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Possum New Zealand in the News
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The Wall Street Journal Online | http://online.wsj.com/public/us
The problem with eco-fur? It's still fur
Report by Christina Binkley
The fur comes from the brushtail possum, a marsupial native to Australia that has become a forest-destroying invasive species in New Zealand. Fur marketers argue that buying furs made from the possums they kill actually benefits the environment. Click here to read the full article. |
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The Independent Newspaper | www.independent.co.uk
Alien Invasion: How the Possum became public enemy no 1
Report by Kathy Marks
They are protected in their native Australia. But despite their cute looks, these marsupial invaders have become such a menace to the environment in New Zealand that designers who use their fur are seen as national heroes, even by conservationists. Click here to read the full article. |
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The Times Online | www.timesonline.co.uk
Is it acceptable to buy Possum fur?
By Anna Shepherd
Considered a pest, there are 18 times as many possums as people in New Zealand. They threaten its native trees and wildlife by munching through vegetation. So much so that anything made from possum is dubbed eco-fur. “Buy a possum and save a forest” is the slogan of one company, Possum New Zealand. Click here to read the full article. |
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Who is Ms Possum?
Ms Possum - a.k.a Teresa Chen-Angliss, Designer/Director of Possum New Zealand - is a complex character. In fact, she wasn’t always known by this pseudonym.
So, how did it come about?
Many years ago, in suburban Auckland, Ms Possum’s beauty sleep was interrupted, by one of our furry friends, launching itself through an open window. The subsequent hissing and thrashing was matched only by Ms Possum’s hysteria – but it was during this pandemonium that an idea was born…
In the ensuing years, Ms Possum happily moved on to other areas of the fashion industry (haute couture, bridal and leatherwear) without giving much thought to the little marsupials.
However, that was all about to change.
A series of unfortunate roadside incidents led Ms Possum to believe that she was being persecuted, and that she would need a more proactive approach to handling the 70 million or so Possums in New Zealand. Thus the metamorphosis to Ms Possum began.
Over time it became obvious that the satisfaction derived from stretching and preparing the hides, was incredibly therapeutic. Her ‘Possum revenge syndrome’ has begun to abate – although sadly there is no known cure for this psychological condition.
We’d love to hear your Possum stories. If you write to Ms Possum, she’ll publish them online, and send you a possy pressie!
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