As you read this, North Shore-based Ella Cook is in Italy, on a four-month internship, part of a global programme designed to connect young people passionate about the wool industry with one of Italy’s leading textile manufacturers. Channel Magazine’s Christine Young caught up with Ella just days before she flew to the South Island for the first part of her internship.
But before we hear about Ella’s internship, achievements and aspirations, a bit about the Reda ‘From Sheep to Shop’ internship. This is offered in partnership between Zentera Wool Company (formerly The New Zealand Merino Company) and Italian textile group Reda. It’s pretty much what the title says: an opportunity for a talented young designer, aged 18-30, who has a “strong desire to work in global fashion or apparel brands and advocate the use of wool” to follow the path of high-end wool from sheep station to fabric. Ella is one of three interns internationally, one each from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, who will gain an end-to-end understanding of wool from on-farm production through to spinning, weaving and finishing in Italy.
“This internship is such a special opportunity and one that means so much to me,” says Ella. “It combines a lot of things I am passionate about – namely fashion design, heritage, and craftsmanship. My grandad worked as a musterer at Glenmac Station in Kurow, so working with Zentera and meeting people on the farm in Canterbury [where the first section of her internship took place] is something close to my heart. I’m very passionate about wool as a sustainable fibre and excited to learn more about New Zealand’s excellence in farming practices and Reda’s rich heritage in textile production.”
Ella grew up in Takapuna and Beach Haven and spent her school years on the Shore, before going on to tertiary study at AUT. “My interests, for as long as I can remember, have revolved around fashion and design as a whole. At school, I specialised in materials technology, where I developed a strong foundation in garment construction and design thinking, and discovered how much I valued both the technical and conceptual sides of the discipline.”
The internship comes on top of Ella’s success in AUT’s design programme. She completed her Master of Design (majoring in fashion design) with first-class honours in August last year, and was awarded AUT’s Eileen Keir Memorial Award for top graduating fashion student. She says her Master of Design focused on exploring “how garments can convey emotion, history, and a sense of ‘hauntological’ presence through their construction, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship. I investigated themes of fragility, decay, and memory by reinterpreting traditional hand-stitching and artisanal techniques in a contemporary context.”
“Drawing on slow fashion philosophies, my university work centred on careful, deliberate making –highlighting the value of skilled handwork, integrity, and time-intensive processes. Ultimately, I approached fashion not just as clothing, but as a crafted, poetic artefact – one that holds personal and cultural narratives while advocating for craftsmanship and thoughtful making in contrast to the dominance of fast fashion. I love natural fibres and strive to only use wool, linen, cotton, and silk in my work and also look to construct clothes through more bespoke hand-stitching methods where possible, rather than always using an overlocker/plain-sewer. I believe this preference to go the extra mile to meet a higher-end finish aligns well with Reda’s values for craftsmanship and ethical standards.”
Her academic focus on craftsmanship and heritage fashion, combined with hands-on experience working with merino wool in both retail and creative contexts, set her internship application apart. Zentera chief executive Angus Street says Ella’s application stood out for its depth, clarity and genuine connection to the fibre. “Ella demonstrated an impressive record of academic achievement, but what really stood out was her commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability, and her desire to understand the full journey from sheep to shop,” he says.
“The internship is a full-time, three-month programme designed to give a comprehensive, end-to-end understanding of the wool industry,” says Ella, “from raw fibre through to finished garment.” It began in mid-April with a one-week module in Christchurch, focused on farming practices, wool production, classing, testing and brokering, and the supply chain, before transitioning to Biella in Piedmont, northern Italy, for the remainder of the placement.
“From there, the internship is structured into a series of in-depth modules that cover every stage of textile and garment production, including spinning, dyeing, weaving, finishing, and product design, as well as areas like marketing and sustainability,” Ella explains. “Alongside the learning, there is also hands-on, on-site shadowing within production departments, allowing us interns to work closely with teams across the mill and associated brands: Lanieri, Rewoolution & Tailoor [all divisions of Reda].
“For myself as the intern, it’s an opportunity to develop a deep, technical understanding of wool and its applications, while gaining insight into a vertically integrated global textile company. For Reda, Zentera, and the wider wool industry, the goal is to foster a new generation of informed designers and advocates – people who understand the full value chain and can champion wool as a sustainable, innovative material within contemporary fashion.”
Ella says she has “always been interested in storytelling, history, and the emotional qualities garments can hold, which is what ultimately drew me to fashion in a deeper sense. It felt like a medium where I could combine craftsmanship with narrative – creating pieces that are not only worn, but experienced. Over time, that interest has evolved into a focus on slow, considered design with the awareness of making sustainable choices as a designer in this day and age.”
Alongside her academic work, Ella has invested time in learning about and participating more in the fashion industry from leaders in the New Zealand fashion scene.
“To date, I’ve gained hands-on experience across both the creative and production sides of the fashion industry, working with a number of highly respected New Zealand designers. I was selected to be the first workroom intern at Juliette Hogan, where I supported multiple departments and gained insight into the full development of a collection – from design development through to retail. I later progressed into retail styling and production roles within Juliette’s brand, which strengthened my understanding of garment quality and the importance of fostering customer relationships.
“Alongside this, I interned with Liz Mitchell, where I contributed to runway preparation and developed my hand-stitching and tailoring skills in a highly artisanal environment. Earlier in my career, I also collaborated with Leo + Be [a New Zealand-owned brand renowned for their cool designs and premium quality] on a commercial collection, giving me experience in design development, technical specifications, and working with offshore production.
“Across these roles, I’ve learned the value of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and adaptability – gaining a well-rounded understanding of how thoughtful design is realised from concept through to finished garment.”
So where to after the internship? “This is a big question that is always on my mind, and I have yet to have it all ‘figured out’! But my goal from here is to continue deepening my experience within the fashion industry, particularly in spaces that value craftsmanship, integrity, and thoughtful design. I’d like to be part of shaping a more considered approach to fashion – one that values quality and narrative, and advocates for wool and slow fashion over mass production. I’m really interested in working closely with designers and studios where I can keep refining my technical skills – especially in handwork, tailoring, and textile development – while also contributing creatively. I’m so excited for this internship and would love to make the most of it and any further opportunities that may stem from it.
“For me, wool represents both tradition and innovation. This internship is an opportunity to understand Zentera’s ZQ certified fibre at its source and follow its transformation into world-class textiles. I’m particularly excited to experience both ends of that journey from New Zealand farms to Italian production and bring that insight back home.”
