Photography: Jae Frew
The first home Dame Trelise Cooper recalls living in as a young girl in 1960 was a multi-unit statehouse in Bairds Road in Ōtara.
Her father, Joe Neill, had come from poverty himself. The young dad-of-four was determined never to let his own children go without the way he did.
As soon as he could, the hard-working drainage contractor moved his entire family out. He built them a house in Henderson, West Auckland. but he never forgot his roots.
Along with his wife Pam – they had first become parents to Trelise while still teenagers – their ethos was always, “If you have it, you share it. Where you can, you serve.”
The iconic fashion designer explains, “We were lucky. Dad earned enough money for us kids to have whatever we wanted. He was very clear that we would never feel poor.
“It was the sixties, so everyone baked and bottled fruit. But Dad liked us to have store-bought biscuits and tinned peaches, which were a luxury.
“In our cul-de-sac, we were seen as very modern. Other kids would come over to our place to eat chocolate biscuits straight from the packet.”
That’s not to say, however, that at times money wasn’t scarce. The family went through periods where Joe was injured and, because he had a physical job, he couldn’t work. Or on other occasions, there was a downturn in the building industry.
“As much as my parents tried to shelter us, in those tough times, we were aware of it,” she remembers. “I know that when you’re on a limited income, it’s very stressful. As kids, we picked up all of those vibes.”
As she chats to the Weekly, it’s clear that if there’s ever a case of “don’t judge a book by its cover”, it’s Trelise.
Her upbringing has given the 67-year-old a unique understanding that it doesn’t take much for many Kiwi families to find they just don’t have the money for food this week.
“I know people see me as this glamorous blonde, Mercedes-driving woman. However, that’s only out of sheer hard work and a fabulous team behind me,” she shares.
“But, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I was a kid who left school at 15 with a School Certificate from Henderson High School. I started in my kitchen with a pattern maker without training.
“From my own creativity and imagination, I’ve had a life that’s bigger than I could’ve ever really dreamed of. I’m living proof that to achieve, you have to believe.”
She says what she learned from her late father was determination, ambition and drive. Her mum – who turns 87 in April – was a hard-working homemaker.
“Mum was raised in a loving Salvation Army household. She passed down values of kindness, gentleness and that charity begins at home,” shares Trelise. “My husband Jack and I live that most days. I really don’t want to sound goody-goody – it’s just a philosophy that we’ve always lived by.”
They used to support children overseas and they now sponsor a Kiwi kid through Variety – The Children’s Charity.
“The child we sponsor lives with their grandmother and five other kids,” says Trelise. “What I love about Variety is that they recognise a child needs the essentials like a warm bed, raincoats, footwear and school supplies, as well as also acknowledging Christmas, so they don’t have shame about missing out.
“Children growing up with shame isn’t good enough. They’re the currency for our future. They are who are going to make our country great, and we can’t have a disproportionate lag between those who have and those who can’t have because of circumstances.
“It’s really important for me that children get to go to school as equals and participate with all of the tools,” she insists. “Education is everything because once education starts to break down because of truancy or shame, a child’s lost.”
Alongside creating gorgeous garments, the style maven has also designed charity tote bags sold at The Warehouse, generating more than $900,000 for Variety.
Philanthropy courses through the rest of the Cooper clan’s blood, too. Her son Jasper, 36, lives in the US with his wife, and Trelise says his whole life is about making the world a better place and championing people experiencing poverty.
Her granddaughter Isabella, 29 – the daughter of her stepson Jacob – has also helped her grandmother out on a number of charity fundraising campaigns. The former flight attendant currently works as a crew member on a super-yacht in Miami.
While A-list celebrities, including Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stevie Nicks are all enthusiastic customers, Trelise points out that for her, it’s been a career that has been underpinned by a deep passion for helping others.
“When times are hard in business and a lot of the day is trouble-shooting, keeping a positive attitude is challenging,” she reflects. “But I believe having a greater purpose to your work is a wonderful way to live life.”
To sponsor a child, visit variety.org.nz
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
