In Residence

with Rebe Burgess

Designer and founder of fashion label REBE.

Fashion Presentation - Reimagined

During New Zealand Fashion Week: Kahuria 2025, designer Rebe unveiled THE APARTMENT, a multi-sensory brand experience that redefined what a fashion presentation could be. Set in a private penthouse above Auckland City and created in partnership with Partridge, the space captured the essence of contemporary New Zealand luxury, quietly confident, artful, and deeply considered.

Part showroom, part salon, and part private residence, THE APARTMENT invited guests into Rebe’s world, one where craftsmanship, community, and curation meet. Every element spoke the language of design: from sculptural furniture and collectable artworks to fragrance, beauty, and textile detail. Among these tactile moments was Mt Somers Acorn rug and Norfolk rug in Sand, chosen for its textural richness and sculptural form - a piece that embodied the warmth and artistry of local design.

We spoke with Rebe about the inspiration behind THE APARTMENT, her reflections on debuting at NZFW, and the details that make a space and a collection come to life.

  • PHOTOGRAPHY BY | Holly Sarah Burgess
  • CURATION BY | Neha Belton
2025 marked your New Zealand Fashion Week debut with The Apartment. What inspired you to take this immersive, multi-day approach instead of a traditional runway show?

As soon as NZFW announced its return, we knew we wanted to get involved - it’s a great opportunity to connect with the industry, fellow designers, and our customers. Our community is at the heart of everything we do, which is why THE APARTMENT felt so aligned: an intimate, immersive space celebrating contemporary New Zealand luxury. I loved welcoming our customers into the world of REBE, sharing the collection in a way that felt personal, considered, and distinctly us.

The setting felt deeply personal, part home, part gallery. How did the concept for THE APARTMENT come to life, and what atmosphere were you hoping to create?

THE APARTMENT grew from the idea of our seasonal retail residencies, reimagined for a unique fashion week moment. Once we found the perfect residence, and alongside our incredible partner Partridge, every element was curated with intention - our womenswear collection sat alongside heirloom jewellery, collectible artworks, sculptural furniture, fine fragrance, and beauty.

Working with interior stylist Neha Belton, and drawing on pieces from local galleries like Coastal Signs, Tredler Gallery, Michael Lett, and brands including ECC, Baina, and of course BAYA, we created a space that felt warm, layered, and thoughtfully curated - one where each detail told its own story and contributed to a welcoming, immersive experience.

You curated the space with pieces from leading New Zealand makers, including BAYA  - Mt Somers Acorn rug and Norfolk rug in Sand. What drew you to that piece, and how did it complement the mood of the space?

I was drawn to these beautiful rugs as they resonated with what I love about good design. I’m naturally pulled toward pieces that are refined yet textural, crafted in natural fibres, and I’ve always loved a neutral palette that feels grounding. I loved how they felt underfoot - bringing warmth and a sense of softness to the space, but also adding to the considered mood we envisioned for THE APARTMENT.

THE APARTMENT seamlessly blended fashion, art, and interiors. How do these disciplines inform one another in your creative process?

For me, fashion, art, and interiors are part of the same creative language - they inform and inspire one another. When designing a garment, I think about proportion, texture, movement, and how it interacts with its surroundings, as well as how it makes you feel - just as I would when layering objects and materials in a room. I like to feel a sense of harmony between these different elements - from what I wear, to the spaces I inhabit, and the objects I interact with - all reflecting my personal taste and creativity.

How did the REBE collection connect to the space? Were there shared textures, tones, or themes you wanted to explore across both?

True to the REBE ethos, our SS26 collection explores balance and celebrates the feminine - fluid silhouettes and soft fabrics meet sculptural tailoring and effortless elegance.

We approached the space in the same way: sculptural furniture and BAYA rugs created a grounded, luxurious base, while curated art, objects, and lighting added playful touches - creating a quiet dialogue between the space and the collection.

You’ve described REBE as quietly luxurious. What does luxury mean to you within the context of New Zealand design?

To me, quiet luxury is about intention and craftsmanship - more a feeling than something you show. In New Zealand design, it’s about the beauty of material, the thoughtfulness of form, and the small details that make a garment, object, or space feel special. It’s understated and personal - something you experience and connect with, rather than something that demands attention.

Many guests remarked that THE APARTMENT felt like stepping into your mind as a designer. What sensory elements, scent, texture, sound, were most important to you?

We were intentional about every sense - visual, sound, and especially scent. I’m a big scent girl, so it felt meant-to-be that one of my favourite local perfumers, ABEL, has a fragrance called The Apartment, which became the signature scent for the week. It perfectly captured the space - textural and sophisticated. We also featured products from Tronqué, one of my favourite self-care brands, whose beautifully scented, luxurious products guests loved indulging in. Everything reflected the same principle: thoughtful, detailed, and considered in every element of the experience.

Sustainability and longevity are at the heart of both REBE and BAYA. How do you design for timelessness, whether in a garment or an interior setting

In terms of design, I like to know a garment will be a hard-working piece in the wearer’s wardrobe, where form and function are key to its longevity. That comes down to quality of make, thoughtful materiality, and balanced proportions. I aim to create pieces that are versatile - ones that work with different fits, in different settings, and for different moods - and my ultimate goal is for each REBE piece to be loved and worn again and again.

Rebe's apartment pieces