The Corporate Apparel team has years of experience in all facets of the clothing industry, including design, pattern making, cutting and manufacturing. They are the backbone of the company - skilled, dependable and committed to excellence.

Lee-Ann Smith - Executive Director and Principal Designer

For 22 years, Lee-Ann has established a position in the corporate apparel marketplace. Living by her commitment to integrity, quality and service, Lee-Ann has earned her reputation as an outstanding professional in New Zealand’s corporate apparel market.

Highly skilled and with a strong sense of business, she selects and produces corporate garments that live up to and beyond her client’s expectations. With an innate sense of design and many years of experience as a designer in the corporate clothing industry, her aim is to produce a one-off look for every garment she designs so that finished items have their own sense of quality, style and individuality.

Seeing a gap in Air New Zealand’s leisure wear back in 1985 gave her the order she needed to launch her first company, Koru Apparel (NZ) Limited. Koru quickly grew from that one order to include other clients such as Allied Liquor, NZ Kiwifruit Marketing Board, Trade Development Board, BMW, Castrol and other high profile businesses and organisations.

Catherine Bourne - Patternmaker and Executive Assistant

Catherine is a qualified patternmaker, cutter, and sample machinist of 18 years. In addition to her exceptional skills she is the Executive Assistant for Corporate Apparel.

Patricia Watson - General Manager

Patricia has held CEO or senior executive roles in various global companies, including POL Equipment Pty (importer and distributor of luxury goods), Fairfax Business Media, and Conde Nast Asia-Pacific for whom she launched VOGUE in South Korea and Taiwan.

With an extensive leadership and media background, she has operated as a marketing and management consultant with clients in politics, copyright, publishing and fashion, including CAL (Copyright Agency Limited) and Calvin Klein Asia.

Throughout her career Patricia has proven to be a very innovative leader with a keen eye for strong ethical editorial, high production values and commercial growth. Her ability to launch both niche and mainstream publications and to identify new market opportunities is exceptional. Patricia has also held board memberships on many government and not-for-profit bodies including Chairman of the Prostrate Cancer Foundation of Australia and President of the Australian Museum. Currently she is a Director of the Prostrate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the Auckland Theatre Company, and Chairman of the Opera Factory.