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Braden Fastier / Stuff
Dame Trelise Cooper says the robbery will affect a charity fashion night against breast cancer in Tauranga.
A cancer charity event is likely to be disrupted after nearly 2,000 samples were stolen from fashion designer Dame Trelise Cooper over the weekend.
Cooper said the thieves who broke through a vent at the downtown Auckland style house could be opportunists who will have a hard time disposing of stolen clothing.
Cooper said Stuff the robbery was a “kick in the gut” for its 100 employees and would affect a breast cancer charity fashion night in Tauranga planned for Thursday.
Cooper is a supporter of the nonprofit Fashion for a Cure.
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Photographers, independent retailers and others in the industry would also face disruptions after the theft, Cooper said.
He said that many stylists used swatches to dress their clients for magazine sessions.
The roughly 1,800 samples emerged from hard work earlier this year, even during challenging Covid-19 lockdown conditions, he said.
Strange discovery
The theft was discovered when staff returned after the weekend, Cooper said.
She said that staff were present until 4 p.m. Saturday and that the robbery occurred shortly after that.
“We got to work Monday morning and there were no samples in the sample room.”
Cooper said a sample coordinator went to start taking samples.
“She came in and said, Okay, they’ve moved the samples. Why didn’t they tell me?
“It was a slow dawn that ‘Oh God, everyone’s gone.’
Cooper said the thieves also emptied many suitcases full of shoes.
TRELISE COOPER
Trelise Cooper’s lookbook gives some indication as to what was stolen.
He was surprised that someone thought he could sell the clothes and asked the thief or thieves to return the goods.
Bring it back and open it at the door. We would like our garments to be returned to us. “
Cooper said he suspected the culprit chose the weekend to sneak in because the country was obsessed with the general election.
“They have been in and out quite quickly.”
Cooper said that in 25 years working at the Epsom building, he had never experienced anything like the weekend break-in.
Four separate labels were in the warehouse, he said.
“We make three of each garment, of each style. So if we’re making one pink jacket, it’s three pink jackets. “
Sizing
Stolen equipment should be easy to spot, Cooper said.
“The summer collection has not yet been delivered. What they have taken is very recognizable. All are size 8 “.
Some of the types of stolen garments can already be seen in Cooper’s lookbooks and the samples would also be without care labels.
“In New Zealand it is illegal to sell a garment without care instructions … All of these will be without their care labels.”
The stolen samples included clothing from Trelise Cooper, Cooper, Coop, and Curate.
But the designer said some “hugely expensive” couture items were also taken.
Police confirmed that a robbery was reported at Lion Place, Epsom over the weekend.
“The store was raided and a significant amount of clothing and shoes were reported stolen,” a police spokeswoman said.
“At this moment the exact time of the robbery is unknown.
She said anyone with information could call police on 105, citing file number 201019/3913, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
