14 May 2025

From fast-fashion to self-made advocate: designer Tara Viggo

From Nine To Noon, 11:20 am on 14 May 2025
Tara Viggo, designer and founder of Paper Theory Patterns.

Photo: Supplied

Kiwi fashion designer Tara Viggo has returned home to Dunedin from a high-flying overseas career to champion slow fashion.

Her big break in the industry in London saw her working for lists of major brands, but it was there she saw firsthand the tonnes of new, almost perfect clothes being thrown out. Disillusioned and bitter about the industry, Tara started making her own patterns with the intention to encourage more people to make their own wardrobe, and slow down their consumption.

A jumpsuit pattern blew up online and her business Paper Theory has been selling patterns to a dedicated audience ever since.