State of Grace

Following her formal training in fashion design at Wellington Polytechnic and a stint as a costume designer for film and theatre, designer Sherilyn Catchpole started selling her own designs under the name, State of Grace, in 1992.

Together with another local designer who has since left the business, Catchpole opened a small boutique on a quiet street corner in Grey Lynn, Auckland. This first, small-but-perfectly-formed State of Grace boutique soon attracted a loyal following. Although the store was a little way off the beaten shopping track, carloads of the fashion-savvy would arrive at the weekends just to buy the beautiful and unique designs they could only find at State of Grace.

Since those early days, the brand has gone from strength to strength. Now in its eleventh year of production, State of Grace is one of the most successful independent fashion labels in New Zealand. It is stocked at around thirty New Zealand and Australian boutiques.

To its clientele, State of Grace epitomizes femininity, romance and theatre, always with a contemporary bias.

Looking at Sherilynís collections her background and passion for theatrical costume is evident as is her love of the most beautiful fabrics. All garments are styled from unusual and spectacular fabrics imported from France, India and Italy; often these have been designed by Sherilyn and are exclusive to State of Grace.