We mostly work with natural fibres like silk, cotton, linen, and wool for their feel, quality, and longevity. Other fibres are used occasionally, chosen for their unique properties or sense of nostalgia. Dead-stock fabrics are sourced from local suppliers, and specialty materials come from Japan, Korea, India, and China. Wherever possible, trims are sourced locally. We often collaborate with local artists on custom prints and embroidery.

Every Penny Sage piece is made locally in Aotearoa New Zealand by a network of talented cutters, sewers, knitters, pressers, and other skilled makers. All of the work happens within 30km of our Grey Lynn studio, where all designing, patterning, and toile making take place.

The Penny Sage store is located at 598 Great North Road, in a historic block of shops in Grey Lynn, Tāmaki Makaurau. Alongside the Penny Sage collection, the store carries a small selection of clothing, homeware, and jewellery that we personally love and use, from makers in Aotearoa and abroad.

Kate learned to sew and knit at an early age, taught by her mother and grandmother. After studying fashion, she spent time working in the workrooms of designer labels in Aotearoa and overseas. Driven by a love of making clothes, she began her own label, Penny Sage, in 2009 from a hilltop tin shed near Taihape. She later moved to Tāmaki Makaurau, where she established a studio and, eventually, a store.

Since then, she has grown the label slowly and deliberately, keeping it small and self-funded. A close creative community has been central to Penny Sage’s story, and with a small in-house team, Kate continues to prioritise quality, relationships, and making clothes worth keeping.