By Liz Puranam
Kate Sylvester is one of the country's most successful designers. She's championed New Zealand fashion, opened stores around the world and expanded into accessories.
Now for all her hard work, Massey University has granted the designer an honorary doctorate in fine arts.
Receiving the honour is a first for Ms Sylvester, as is wearing a robe she didn't make. The designer only ever wears clothes she's made.
However fashion is in her blood and she says it was always the career path for her.
"My first memory is of a doll's dress and getting it caught in the spokes of the wheel of my trike," she says. "I was so traumatised because it got oil on it and that's literally my first memory. But I think I was about 13 when I realised 'oh my god, you can actually get paid to do this!'"
Ms Sylvester has now built an international brand, with half the business being done offshore.
And while she would like to expand into designing homeware, she says clothes will always be her first love.
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