Annah Stretton 2
Annah Stretton CNZM (born December 1959) is a New Zealand fashion designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of RAW (Reclaim Another Woman).[1]
Private Life
Stretton grew up in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.[2] Stretton has two children, daughter Sami and son Edward, and four grandchildren Lily, Violet, River and Ted.[3] Stretton is married to Tony Hope.[4]
Early Life & Education
Stretton attended Karamu High School. [2] She enrolled in art school and then pursued a degree in accountancy.[1] Stretton then worked at a Waikato clothing company as an accountant. This experience eventually led to her starting her own fashion business.[1]
In 2006 Stretton received an Honorary Degree in Master of Art at Waikato Institute Of Technology.[5]
Career in Fashion
Stretton launched her fashion business from a dairy farm in the Waikato.[6]
In 2004 Stretton debuted on the World of Wearable Art (WOW®) stage with Beauty and the Beast. The piece was displayed for several years at the World of Wearable Art and Classic Car Museum in Nelson. In 2005 Stretton entered Reluctant Bride: Bird of Prey, a garment addressing the issue of young Asian mail order brides married to older European men. In 2006, she entered Black Tie, constructed entirely from black and white bow ties,[7] followed in 2007 by Queen of Hearts. In 2008, Stretton accepted an invitation to join the WOW® judging panel, concluding her participation as an entrant.
Stretton showed at New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) annual event between 2002 - 2015 and Australian Fashion Weeks (AFW).[8][9]
Stretton expanded into publishing becoming the owner and editor of Her Business, a magazine focussed on female entrepreneurs in New Zealand and Pink Magazine, a breast cancer publication.[10]
In the five years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, Stretton closed 24 of her 34 stores in New Zealand and Australia.[3] During the pandemic, she was approached by a charity to produce fabric face masks.[11] Lockdowns also prompted the brand to diversify into new product lines, including accessories and homeware.[12]
Charitable Initiatives
Reclaim Another Woman (RAW)
In 2014 Stretton established RAW alongside her sister Rebecca Skilton.[13] A Waikato based residential programme recognised by the Department of Corrections for its rehabilitation framework.[14]
In 2018, Stretton expanded the programme to RAW on the Inside at Auckland Regional Women’s Correctional Facility.[15]
Stretton authored The RAW Truth, which recounts the experiences of women in the RAW programme and her involvement in the initiative, aiming to challenge perceptions of recidivist offenders in New Zealand.[16]
Kia Puāwai
Stretton established the Kia Puāwai charitable trust in 2016 to deliver wellness programmes to charities and community groups, with the goal of building resilience and enhancing community impact.[17][18] The programme is structured around three core principles: nutrition, movement, and mind management.[19] Participants have included Aspire, Waikato Women’s Refuge, Child Matters, and Habitat for Humanity Central Region.[17]
Hope Fish
The Hope Fish Foundation (2021), founded by Stretton, offers co-funding grants for educational growth opportunities that enable New Zealand women to make positive contributions to their community.[20]
Philanthropy
In 2013, Ruahine (Roni) Albert, chief executive of Te Whakaruruhau, New Zealand's first Māori women's refuge, invited Stretton to join the organisation. Stretton chairs the governance board for Waikato Women's Refuge.[21]
Stretton joined the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust in 2000.
Stretton purchased a Waikato property in 2005 for the True Colours Children’s Health Trust to facilitate its work in supporting Waikato families affected by a child’s serious health condition.[22][23] She also created The Long Lunch, an annual fundraising event. Stretton served on the True Colours Trust Board between 2004-2009.[24]
In 2009 Stretton was invited to serve as an advisory board member for New Zealand Global Women.[25] Her governance positions include Board member of UNICEF NZ (2015-2020).[26]
Photography
In completion of her master’s degree in photography at Wintec, Stretton created the RAW Beauty exhibition in collaboration with RAW participants, to illuminate the contributions of women with a history of incarceration through consented imagery.[27]
Recognition
- In 2005 Stretton received the Ernst & Young NZ Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[28]
- In 2008 Stretton was recognised for her contribution to the community with the Zonta Woman of the Biennium Award.[29]
- Stretton was awarded New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Fashion/Business/Community in 2008.[30][31]
- In 2009, Stretton was the recipient of the Veuve Clicquot business award.[32]
- In 2015, Stretton was awarded the ASB Social Entrepreneur of the Year award for her work with RAW.[33]
- In 2017, Stretton was recognised for RAW with the Not For Profit Award at the Waikato Business Awards.[34]
- Stretton was a semi finalist for New Zealander of the Year Awards in 2018 & 2019.[26]
- In 2019, Stretton was a recipient for the Zonta 50 Women of Achievement Awards.[35]
Books
Stretton has authored works spanning autobiography, business commentary, and motivational literature. Her writing documents her progression from art student and accountant to fashion designer and entrepreneur, and chronicles her collaborations on social impact initiatives.
- From Rag Trade to Mag Trade: The Business of Annah Stretton was published by Stretton Publishing in 2007.[36]
- Wise Heart: 10 strategies for success in business & life was published by Random House in 2010.[37]
- Rock the Boat! was published by Stretton Publishing in 2013.[38]
- The RAW truth: an angel on your shoulder was published by Stretton Publishing in 2019.[39]
- Grit Before Grace was published by Stretton Publishing in 2022.[40]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Stretton Returns to her Alma Mater | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "How three generations of women saved a Kiwi fashion legacy". NZ Herald. 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ "The masked designer". New Zealand Woman's Weekly. 28 Jun 2021. Retrieved 2025-08-11 – via PressReader.
- ↑ "Honorary award recipients". Wintec. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ↑ Walker, Zoe (2010-02-10). "Annah Stretton's edgy debut at RAFW". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ↑ "Feature: Annah Stretton At Air NZ Fashion Week | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
- ↑ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ↑ "Fashion Week 08: Annah Stretton". thebigidea.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton". Celebrity Speakers. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
- ↑ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ↑ Tweed, Mike (2022-03-11). "Annah Stretton moves from grit to grace". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ↑ "RAW: the prison rebab programme giving women a boost". RNZ. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton: women, meth and incarceration". RNZ. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton: bringing hope to women in prison". RNZ. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton campaigns to publish RAW book". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "The Good Guys Looking After The Good Guys | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ "Interview with Annah Stretton | Newmarket". 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ↑ "You Can't Out Run Your Fork! | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ Shaw, Aimee (2021-01-15). "Fishing for business: Fashion designer hooks new ventures, philanthropy". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ "Our Board | Advocates for Social Change". Waikato Women's Refuge. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton | True Colours Children's Health Trust". www.truecolours.org.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ↑ News, Waikato Business (2019-12-02). "True Colours – one of a kind". Business News. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ↑ "Our People | True Colours Children's Health Trust". www.truecolours.org.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton". Celebrity Speakers. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "RAW - Reclaim Another Woman". The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland (Inc). Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2025-08-10. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Raw Beauty | Love the Centre". www.lovethecentre.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton top NZ consumer award winner | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ↑ "Awards & Scholarships". Zonta International District 16. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ↑ "Annah Stretton - Karamu High School Tira Ora". Annah Stretton. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ "2008 New Year Honours (New Zealand)", Wikipedia, 2025-05-23, retrieved 2025-08-21
- ↑ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ↑ Ryan, Holly (2015-11-17). "'Typical Kiwi' wins award". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- ↑ "2017 Westpac Waikato Business Award Winners | Waikato Chamber of Commerce". www.waikatochamber.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ↑ Zonta New Zealand (November 2019). "100 WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNISED BY ZONTA NEW ZEALAND" (PDF). Zonta 100 Women of Achievement Media Release. p. 11.
- ↑ Stretton, Annah; Bailey, Jo (2007). From Rag Trade to Mag Trade: The Business of Annah Stretton. Morrinsville, N.Z.: Stretton Publishing. ISBN 978-0473126629. Search this book on
- ↑ Stretton, Annah (2010). Wise heart: 10 strategies for success in business & life. Auckland, N.Z.: Random House New Zealand. ISBN 9781869793852. Search this book on
- ↑ Stretton, Annah (2013). Rock the Boat!. Morrinsville, N.Z.: Stretton Publishing. ISBN 9780473246334. Search this book on
- ↑ Pierce, Natalie (2019). The RAW truth: an angel on your shoulder. Morrinsville, N.Z.: Stretton Publishing. ISBN 9780473475956. Search this book on
- ↑ Stretton, Annah; Pierce, Natalie (2022). Grit Before Grace. Morrinsville, N.Z.: Stretton Publishing. ISBN 9780473613303. Search this book on
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