Born and breed in Tairawhiti Gisborne, Chelsea Thorpe has always been connected to the space and place called home. Throughout her diverse career a strong thread has always been the environment, within the four walls of homes or spaces and outside of them.

From fashion design to interior design, Chelsea’s drive to create beauty has applied to both clothing and spaces. Chelsea is now pursuing a career in helping others add beauty and function to their own homes.

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Information

  • Name: Chelsea Thorpe

  • Address: 177A Ballance Street, Whataupoko, Gisborne

  • Phone: 027 7080908

  • Email: chelseajane.thorpe@gmail.com

Education

  • Certificate in Fashion Technology EIT, Napier, 2001

  • Certificate of Arts Whitecliffe University, Auckland, 2002

  • Diploma of Fashion Design Massey University 2003-2004

  • Diploma of Interior Design Interior Design Institute 2023-2024

Work Experience

Modern Lovers - Retail Store

Founder & Buyer (2004 - 2007)

  • Established and managed a fashion retail store specialising in New Zealand designers.

  • Collaborated with a diverse range of clients to create a beautiful range of products to pretend to the customer.

  • Bought directly from designers and built key relationships.

  • Managed client communications, project timelines, and accounting.

Chelsea Thorpe - Clothing Label

Founder & Designer (2004 - 2008)

  • Designed and developed two collections each year.

  • Worked directly with production companies to manufacture clothing in NZ.

  • Employed staff within the workroom to develop clothing designs from design to production.

  • Developed and executed creative content strategies for marketing campaigns.

  • Managed wholesale accounts with buyers all over NZ. Presenting and selling collections directly to retail buyers.

  • Managed client communications, project timelines, and invoicing.

  • Presented two collections at ‘Air New Zealand Fashion Week’ to a large range of buyers and media.

The Winemakers Daughters - Cafe & Winebar

Co-founder (2009 - 2012)

  • Established and managed the cafe alongside the co-founder.

  • Managed front of house staff and accounts.

  • Worked together to create menus.

EIT Gisborne - Fashion Tutor

Fashion Tutor (2012)

  • Work alongside the head tutor to bring knowledge to students.

  • Taught the students design concepts and how to develop ideas though research and development.

  • Worked closely with a diverse group of young adults.

Gathered - Retail Store

Founder & Buyer (2013 -2017)

  • Established a retail store specialising in ethically and handmade items for the home.

  • Researched and bought a curated collection often directly from the producer.

  • Developed and executed creative content strategies for social media marketing campaigns.

  • Managed client communications, project timelines, and accounts.

  • Built and managed an ecommerce store.

Poems for Buttercup & Tanglewood Toys - Children’s Online Store

Co-founder & Buyer (2017-2021)

  • Curated and bought a collection of natural and ethical toys from around the world.

  • Built an extensive ecommerce online store with hundred of products.

  • Photographed and styled each item to create a cohesive story to present to the customer.

  • Grew our social media account to over 11k with beautiful and informative posts.

  • Managed customer communications and order dispatch.

Willowsong Tairawhiti - Steiner Education Charitable Trust

Co-founder & Treasurer- Charitable work (2018-current)

  • Work closely within the committee to bring Steiner/Waldorf initiatives to Gisborne and building

    a community by offering a weekly playgroup and other events and workshops.

  • Create a strong vision through design and imagery.

  • Working with the Ministry of Education.

Black House Studio - Airbnb

Designer and Manager (2022 - current)

  • Designed and managed the design of the studio (a converted 20 ft container)

  • Developed a strong brand and social media presence.

  • Manage the studio to a Superhost standard.

  • Manage guest communications.

Skills

  • Developing a vision and following it through to completion.

  • Creating a strong brand through visual storytelling.

  • Project management and client relations.

  • Proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

  • Currently working on Advanced Sketchup Module.

Publications

  • Homestyle Magazine - Feature on our self built home

  • Nadia Magazine - Feature on ’Poems for Buttercup’.

  • Oh Baby Magazine - Feature on my sister and I and our business ‘Poems for Buttercup’.

  • Homestyle Magazine - Feature on our home and store ‘Gathered’.

Personal Achievements

  • I have four beautiful daughters aged 2-13 years of age.

  • in 2020 in the mid of Covid we completed our self designed and built home in Gisborne.

References

Available upon request.

CHELSEA THORPE STUDIO, 02/20/2024