Gus Fisher (fashion)
Encyclopedia
Gurshon "Gus" Fisher ONZM (born December 1920 in Wellington
, New Zealand
, died 20 July 2010 in Auckland
, New Zealand
) is a philanthropist and a former leading figure in the New Zealand
fashion industry. He headed the fashion house El Jay for 50 years, introducing Parisian style to New Zealand, and was the New Zealand agent for Christian Dior
for 33 years from 1955 until 1988. In 2001 The University of Auckland opened the Gus Fisher Gallery
, named after him in recognition of his contribution to the gallery. In 2010, Fisher and his wife Irene were the recipients of the fifth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand
Award for Patronage.
Gus had a love of beauty and he was a passionate collector of painting, sculpture and objects d'arte.
, New Zealand
on 11 December 1920. He was the youngest of six children of parents Michael Fisher and Fanny Dabscheck. His father, Michael was a Jewish immigrant from Odessa in Russia. His mother, Fanny was the daughter of Russian Jews who had immigrated to Australia. Gus was eight years younger than his eldest brother Sir Woolf Fisher
, co-founder of Fisher and Paykel, the very successful whiteware company.
At 15, Gus left school and went to work for his second brother Louis Jacob (Lou). Lou founded El Jay (named after his initials) as a whiteware importing and distribution business. After the imposition of whiteware import tariffs Lou decided to diversify and began to manufacture women's clothing. This is where Gus Fisher excelled.
Gus Fisher served in Tonga during World War II as a gunnery sergeant. He returned to Auckland in 1945 to become Managing Director of El Jay.
instead. He travelled there every year to see first-hand the new designs and fabrics and to experience the mood and feel of the fashion trends. For his own fashion label, El Jay, he interpreted French Couture and created his own version of uncluttered European elegance making it available to women here. This commitment to experiencing the real thing led to not just a keen awareness of the latest trends but also to the establishment of relationships with the Paris couturiers which in turn led to El Jay becoming the New Zealand licensee for Christian Dior, giving it the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Christian Dior originals and Christian Dior prêt-à-porter in the New Zealand market. The quality of the production from the house of El Jay is legendary and Fisher never lost the Dior licence becoming the longest licence holder in the world. For 50 years, El Jay was sold in the top department stores and fashion boutiques including his own flagship stores the French Shop in Remuera and the El Jay boutique in the 246 building, a 1960s retail development on Queen St in Auckland.
1973 Eve Fashion Awards, Best Pure Wool Garment, Bext Wool Knit Garment, International Award. Gus was awarded this award for his "full length black black velvet coat dress edged with black petersham braid with most dramatic collar." The compere then announced that there had been one garment that outclassed all others. "He reported that it was of such a high standard that the judges felt it would be acclaimed anywhere in the world. They had decided to create a special award, the International Award, to acknowledge this achievement."
2005 Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from The University of Auckland for his contribution to the development of academic programmes, the Fisher Parkinson's Fellowship, research and infrastructure and the university and his key role in establishing the Kenneth Myers Centre and his involvement in the Hood Fund.
2007 Awarded a Mayor's Living Legend Award.
2008 Auckland Grammar, Old Boys' Augusta Award
2009 Became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit ONZM for services to philanthropy.
2010 Gus Fisher and his wife Irene were the recipients of the fifth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for patronage. To celebrate the Award, the Arts Foundation gave Gus and Irene Fisher $20,000 to donate to artists or arts projects of their choosing. As with previous recipients, the Fishers initially doubled the amount for distribution with $20.000 of their own and announced that they would make four donations of $10,000 each. However, in a surprise announcement on the evening, Gus announced an extra recipient and further $10.000 donation.
at The University of Auckland to encourage debate on contemporary visual arts and culture and foster creative and academic research in visual arts.
Gus Fisher has also been involved in the establishment of the Kenneth Myers Centre and the School of Creative and Performing Arts and The University of Auckland.
2004 Gus Fisher Postdoctoral Fellowship to specialise in the research of Neurogenerative diseases and a cure for Parkinson's disease. This was the first felowship related to Parkinson's research offered in New Zealand.
Gus Fisher has made significant donations to a number of organisations, including the Auckland War Memorial Museum and community drug education and rehabilitation progammes.
Gus Fisher is a founding donor of the Hood Fund, which enables leading New Zealand academics to share their research overseas.
Further donations went to the Auckland Museum Redevelopment Programme, the Auckland City Art Gallery, the McCahon House Trust, the Auckland Festival, and The University of Auckland's Medical School.
The contribution of Gus Fisher and his El Jay label was celebrated in 2010 by the "Looking Terrific – the Story of El Jay" pop up exhibition of the New Zealand Fashion Museum
at the Gus Fisher Gallery
. Curated by Doris de Pont, the exhibition showcased over 50 vintage garments by El Jay.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, died 20 July 2010 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a philanthropist and a former leading figure in the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
fashion industry. He headed the fashion house El Jay for 50 years, introducing Parisian style to New Zealand, and was the New Zealand agent for Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
for 33 years from 1955 until 1988. In 2001 The University of Auckland opened the Gus Fisher Gallery
Gus Fisher Gallery
The Gus Fisher Gallery is part of The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries , and is located in The Kenneth Myers Centre, an historic building restored in 2000 with the help of the gallery's patron, Gus Fisher .It is operated by the Centre for New Zealand Art...
, named after him in recognition of his contribution to the gallery. In 2010, Fisher and his wife Irene were the recipients of the fifth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand
Arts Foundation of New Zealand
A facilitator of private philanthropy, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand supports artistic excellence through its permanent Endowment Fund. Legacies and donations help grow the Fund, with income generated enabling the Foundation to support the arts....
Award for Patronage.
Gus had a love of beauty and he was a passionate collector of painting, sculpture and objects d'arte.
Life
Fisher was born in ParaparaumuParaparaumu
Paraparaumu is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Kapiti Coast, 50 kilometres north of the nation's capital city, Wellington....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on 11 December 1920. He was the youngest of six children of parents Michael Fisher and Fanny Dabscheck. His father, Michael was a Jewish immigrant from Odessa in Russia. His mother, Fanny was the daughter of Russian Jews who had immigrated to Australia. Gus was eight years younger than his eldest brother Sir Woolf Fisher
Woolf Fisher
Sir Woolf Fisher was an East Tamaki, New Zealand, businessman and philanthropist who co-founded Fisher & Paykel, a major appliance manufacturing company, and the Ra Ora Stud, an important Thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation.Born in Wellington, his family moved to Auckland where he studied at...
, co-founder of Fisher and Paykel, the very successful whiteware company.
At 15, Gus left school and went to work for his second brother Louis Jacob (Lou). Lou founded El Jay (named after his initials) as a whiteware importing and distribution business. After the imposition of whiteware import tariffs Lou decided to diversify and began to manufacture women's clothing. This is where Gus Fisher excelled.
Gus Fisher served in Tonga during World War II as a gunnery sergeant. He returned to Auckland in 1945 to become Managing Director of El Jay.
Fashion
While the young Queen Elizabeth II was the fashion role model for most New Zealand women of the 1950s, Fisher looked to ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
instead. He travelled there every year to see first-hand the new designs and fabrics and to experience the mood and feel of the fashion trends. For his own fashion label, El Jay, he interpreted French Couture and created his own version of uncluttered European elegance making it available to women here. This commitment to experiencing the real thing led to not just a keen awareness of the latest trends but also to the establishment of relationships with the Paris couturiers which in turn led to El Jay becoming the New Zealand licensee for Christian Dior, giving it the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Christian Dior originals and Christian Dior prêt-à-porter in the New Zealand market. The quality of the production from the house of El Jay is legendary and Fisher never lost the Dior licence becoming the longest licence holder in the world. For 50 years, El Jay was sold in the top department stores and fashion boutiques including his own flagship stores the French Shop in Remuera and the El Jay boutique in the 246 building, a 1960s retail development on Queen St in Auckland.
Awards
1961 Wool Awards, Supreme Award. This Highest accolade was given to El Jay in the Award's inaugural year, setting an aspirationl goal for the growing ranks of high fashion manufacturers locally.1973 Eve Fashion Awards, Best Pure Wool Garment, Bext Wool Knit Garment, International Award. Gus was awarded this award for his "full length black black velvet coat dress edged with black petersham braid with most dramatic collar." The compere then announced that there had been one garment that outclassed all others. "He reported that it was of such a high standard that the judges felt it would be acclaimed anywhere in the world. They had decided to create a special award, the International Award, to acknowledge this achievement."
2005 Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from The University of Auckland for his contribution to the development of academic programmes, the Fisher Parkinson's Fellowship, research and infrastructure and the university and his key role in establishing the Kenneth Myers Centre and his involvement in the Hood Fund.
2007 Awarded a Mayor's Living Legend Award.
2008 Auckland Grammar, Old Boys' Augusta Award
2009 Became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit ONZM for services to philanthropy.
2010 Gus Fisher and his wife Irene were the recipients of the fifth annual Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for patronage. To celebrate the Award, the Arts Foundation gave Gus and Irene Fisher $20,000 to donate to artists or arts projects of their choosing. As with previous recipients, the Fishers initially doubled the amount for distribution with $20.000 of their own and announced that they would make four donations of $10,000 each. However, in a surprise announcement on the evening, Gus announced an extra recipient and further $10.000 donation.
Philanthropy
2001 Established the Gus Fisher GalleryGus Fisher Gallery
The Gus Fisher Gallery is part of The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries , and is located in The Kenneth Myers Centre, an historic building restored in 2000 with the help of the gallery's patron, Gus Fisher .It is operated by the Centre for New Zealand Art...
at The University of Auckland to encourage debate on contemporary visual arts and culture and foster creative and academic research in visual arts.
Gus Fisher has also been involved in the establishment of the Kenneth Myers Centre and the School of Creative and Performing Arts and The University of Auckland.
2004 Gus Fisher Postdoctoral Fellowship to specialise in the research of Neurogenerative diseases and a cure for Parkinson's disease. This was the first felowship related to Parkinson's research offered in New Zealand.
Gus Fisher has made significant donations to a number of organisations, including the Auckland War Memorial Museum and community drug education and rehabilitation progammes.
Gus Fisher is a founding donor of the Hood Fund, which enables leading New Zealand academics to share their research overseas.
Further donations went to the Auckland Museum Redevelopment Programme, the Auckland City Art Gallery, the McCahon House Trust, the Auckland Festival, and The University of Auckland's Medical School.
The contribution of Gus Fisher and his El Jay label was celebrated in 2010 by the "Looking Terrific – the Story of El Jay" pop up exhibition of the New Zealand Fashion Museum
New Zealand Fashion Museum
The New Zealand Fashion Museum is the brainchild of fashion designer, turned fashion historian, Doris de Pont. Established as a charitable trust in late 2009, the museum is of no fixed abode, but holds “pop-up” exhibitions around New Zealand, and will be an online museum...
at the Gus Fisher Gallery
Gus Fisher Gallery
The Gus Fisher Gallery is part of The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries , and is located in The Kenneth Myers Centre, an historic building restored in 2000 with the help of the gallery's patron, Gus Fisher .It is operated by the Centre for New Zealand Art...
. Curated by Doris de Pont, the exhibition showcased over 50 vintage garments by El Jay.