Designer Kharl WiRepa has won award after award for his wildly glamorous couture. He met Trelise Cooper at 15. At the age of 23, Anna Wintour’s gang have come knocking.

WORDS JENNY RUDD PHOTOS MICHELLE CUTELLI

Kharl WiRepa has been named as one of the country’s top 20 influencers under the age of 25 by www.scout.co.nz, had two shows at New Zealand Fashion Week at which front row tickets were requested by US Vogue. At age 15 he was the only person at a fashion show to be able to curl Trelise Cooper’s locks properly. So he has talent by the truckload.

The 23 year old born and bred Rotorua boy is sooo fashion, darling, all high cheekbones, slender physique, svelte tailoring and dark glasses. He’s also as cheeky as an imp and his honesty probably gets him into trouble. Half the stuff he says isn’t printable and is naughty and funny enough to necessitate plenty of covering of mouths to stifle giggles and scoffs from both of us. Warm and confiding, he’d definitely make the perfect dinner guest: outrageous, beautiful, fun, well spoken and well read.

NOT FOR ME
An only child, Kharl went to a smart, private Catholic school. He said he found it hard there with both the other students and the teachers.

“They wanted to mould everyone. I didn’t feel I needed to be moulded as I am quite happy as I am. Why should I be something I’m not? I will do what I like because I am not subject to anyone’s conditions. As an only child, I was used to socialising with adults and I didn’t appreciate being spoken down to at school by the teachers. What makes them better and more important than the students?

“I was bullied severely for the way I behaved and carried on. Gang bashings were commonplace. I can throw a punch though, I stand up for myself. I don’t like losing so I was happy to get stuck in. I suspect it’s different going to school now for people like me. I hope it’s better.”

YOUNG STARTER
“At 18 years old, I was the first ever male and youngest ever senior manager at Supré, I looked after all the store managers nationwide. I had the skills to do it but was far too young for that kind of role and that kind of money. I got carried away with it all and ended up in casinos, spending money on things I shouldn’t have, taking drugs and hanging out with the wrong people.

“I thought my whole life would be at Supré, I loved the job. I was a stylist at Cleo magazine at the same time, buying clothes and styling models. When it all spiralled out of control I lost everything: my car, all my money, everything. Apart from my jewellery of course. I couldn’t lose my Chanel watch.”

A stint at rehab and a move back home to live with his family in Rotorua led to enrollment in fashion school. He didn’t even finish the course, just got on and started work. One to court interest, TV3 produced a documentary on him. He produces collections but everything on his catwalk shows can be made to measure. Haute Couture is where he wants to be.

GIVING BACK TO HIS PEOPLE
He’s also generous and clever. That’s an enormously useful combination. The manager of the Rotorua Salvation Army Store approached Kharl to help them find a way to increase sales.

“Each day, the Salvation Army give out 32 food parcels. There are so many people who need them – I know lots of those who do; some of my own friends and family, my indigenous people. To fund these parcels the Salvation Army need to increase their sales. Each year, we put together a fashion show ‘A Million Dollar Look for $2’. We use the stock in the store, local models and hold a catwalk show.”

He takes the Salvation Army show as seriously as his high profile shows. And that’s what makes him so endearing. He can play the game at being utterly fabulous, with plenty of emphasis on the first syllable accompanied with air-kissing but is also knowledgeable about how a large chunk of the demographic live in New Zealand and the politics behind it. He also spoke of the exploitation of young models and is working within the industry to expose those with poor working practices.

TRAFFIC STOPPER
On December 5th, the streets in central Rotorua are closing. Salon St Bruno and Kharl are putting on a summer fashion show with other local designers.

“The council are renovating the square in the middle of Tutanekai Street but they are waiting until after the fashion show.” He clearly gets a kick out of holding up the council in favour of a flurry of glitz.

Next year will be big: he plans to open a store in Tauranga straight after New Zealand Fashion Week. “I’m thinking all white and perspex.”

The range of experience and insight for a 23 year old is quite astonishing. The boy has gumption, ability in spades, a love of sparkle and is, quite firmly, in the ‘look out world’ category.

KHARLWIREPA.COM