Vinka Lucas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vinka Lucas
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Lucas in 2019
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| Born |
Vinka Dragica Ravlić
1 January 1932 Kozica, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
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| Died | 10 August 2020 (aged 88) Auckland, New Zealand
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| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Occupation | Fashion designer and retailer |
| Years active | 1959–2009 |
| Known for | Co-founder of New Zealand Bride magazine |
Vinka Dragica Lucas was a famous fashion designer from New Zealand. She was known for her beautiful wedding dresses. Vinka also started a popular magazine called New Zealand Bride. She was born in 1932 and passed away in 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Vinka Lucas was born in a small village called Kozica in Croatia. This village is close to the sea. As she grew up, Vinka learned how to sew and embroider. These were traditional skills in her village. Later, she moved to a city called Zagreb. There, she studied cutting and design at a special school.
In 1951, when Vinka was 15, she moved to New Zealand. She went to live with her sister in Northland. Vinka did not speak much English at first. She worked in her sister's shop in a small town. In 1955, she moved to Auckland. She started working in a big department store. Vinka became a New Zealand citizen in 1959.
Starting a Fashion Business
In 1959, Vinka and her husband, David Lucas, bought a fashion business. It was in Hamilton. They changed its name to Maree de Maru. This name meant "Marriage of the Brides" in Croatian. They turned the shop into a place that sold only wedding dresses.
In 1962, the couple opened another shop in Customs Street, Auckland. In 1966, they moved it to Queen Street. This was a very busy street in the city.
Over the next few years, Vinka opened four more fashion shops on Queen Street:
- Modern Bride: This shop sold simpler wedding dresses.
- Buttons Galore: Here, you could find trimmings and accessories.
- Stanton Silks: This shop sold special fabrics from other countries.
- Vinka Lucas After 5: This shop sold dresses for parties and evening events.
Creating New Zealand Bride Magazine
In 1963, Vinka and David published a small book of wedding dress designs. This book later grew into the magazine New Zealand Bride. David Lucas was in charge of the magazine's writing and art. Vinka Lucas planned the photoshoots and was the fashion director.
International Success
In the 1980s, Vinka Lucas started selling her designs in the Middle East. She worked with a local leader, Sheikh Abbas Filamban. They opened a salon in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and another in Kuwait.
During this time, Vinka also achieved two big things:
- She showed her fashion collection at the London Fashion Olympics in 1980.
- She won an international fashion competition in Austria.
Later Life and Legacy
In 2009, Vinka Lucas had a stroke and stopped working. Her daughter, Anita Turner-Williams, took over the business. She continued it under the names Vinka Design and Vinka Brides.
In 2017, a wedding dress designed by Vinka Lucas was found. It was in a bag of clothes given to a charity shop. The shop gave the dress to the Auckland Museum. The museum put the dress on display. You can also find some of Vinka's sewing patterns at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
In 2019, Vinka Lucas was given a special award. She became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This award was for her great work in fashion and design. Vinka passed away in Auckland on August 10, 2020. She was 88 years old.
