Bringing desert flare to kiwi shores
Words Nikita Oliver Metcalfe
Tracing back to Vivian's extensive travels through the Southwestern states of the USA during her formative years; upon returning home to New Zealand, she noticed a lack of accessibility for the Western and Americana aesthetic that had captivated her while abroad. “Desert Fiend was a way I felt I could share and connect with likeminded people in Aotearoa," says Vivian.
More than just a brand, Desert Fiend is a way of life. It embodies a nostalgia for a bygone era, drawing inspiration from Western films, classic rock music, timeless style and a longing for the freedom of the open road. The brand aims to encapsulate an attitude - a small act of everyday rebellion - inspiring others to live their life through a different lens.
Think truck stops and turntables, Coca-Cola and classic cars, snakeskin and Slim Aarons, Led Zeppelin and leather, dirt roads and Dolly Parton - “The Desert Fiend is one who creates the kind of world they want to experience,” explains Vivian.
Meticulously curating second hand products from across New Zealand and online, Vivian believes there is an abundance of amazing clothing out there just waiting for a new home and new lease on life. Convinced fast fashion is a detriment to the environment with its creation of unnecessary waste, Vivian hopes to encourage others to discover their personal style through the history and richness of pre-loved pieces that can’t be replicated with today's manufacturing.
“Whether it’s a patch on the knee of a well-loved pair of jeans or an old ticket stub in a jacket pocket, there is always a story to be told.”
Her strong creative flare and deep love for visual arts, primarily photography, for which she has won awards, has also been incorporated into the Desert Fiend offering through original photographic prints from her time abroad that encapsulate the lifestyle the brand exudes.
View the Desert Fiend range online and look out for Vivian at local markets selling her unique Western Americana wares in person and remember ‘fashion comes and goes but style is forever’.
www.DesertFiend.com | DesertFiendOperations@gmail.com