A New Zealand Bridal Couture House Since 1959
For more than six decades, Vinka Design has helped shape generations of New Zealand brides fashion since 1959. Founded by pioneering couturier Vinka Lucas MNZM and now led by her daughter, designer Anita Turner, the house remains proudly family owned and devoted to creating wedding gowns of individuality, artistry and enduring beauty.
Today, Vinka Design remains New Zealand’s longest-standing bridal couture house. Every Vinka gown is designed and handcrafted by our bridal couturiers in our Auckland atelier, continuing a tradition in which imagination, technical mastery and the human hand remain at the heart of every creation.
The Vision of Vinka Lucas
Vinka Design takes its name from its founder, Vinka Lucas MNZM, whose remarkable career helped shape bridal and eveningwear design in New Zealand. From the establishment of her label in 1959, Vinka became known not only for the beauty and craftsmanship of her gowns, but for the breadth of her vision and her determination to expand what was possible for New Zealand fashion.
Together with her husband David, she established New Zealand’s first bridal magazine, bringing new ideas, designers and international influences to brides throughout the country. Her work also extended into the wholesale of fine textiles and laces sourced from around the world, alongside a pattern-making service that gave women nationwide access to her designs.
Through these many expressions of creativity and enterprise, Vinka helped build a richer bridal culture in New Zealand and laid the foundations for the design house that still carries her name today.
A Legacy Carried Forward by Anita Turner
Today, Vinka Design is led by Vinka’s daughter, Anita Turner, who grew up within the rhythms and rituals of the workroom. Her earliest memories are of watching her mother sketch, cut and create, surrounded by gowns in progress and the fabrics that would one day become them.
With more than 40 years of bridal couture experience, Anita brings both inherited knowledge and a distinct creative vision to the house. Her work honours the techniques and values established by her mother while continuing to evolve through new silhouettes, materials and expressions of modern femininity.
As Head Designer and Creative Director, Anita works closely with brides throughout the consultation and design process, whether guiding them towards a gown from the Vinka collections or creating an entirely bespoke design from the first sketch.
Anita Turner
Anita Turner
Head Designer and Creative Director
Created by Hand in Our Auckland Atelier
Vinka Design remains proudly family owned and operated in Auckland, New Zealand. Every gown is designed and created in-house by our team of expert bridal couturiers, preserving a level of craftsmanship and personal involvement that has become increasingly rare.
Within the atelier, traditional couture techniques meet the possibilities of contemporary design. Exceptional fabrics, laces and embellishments sourced from around the world are cut, shaped and placed by hand, with every detail considered in relation to the woman who will wear the gown.
This way of working is slower, more intimate and deeply intentional. It allows us to create gowns with character and integrity – pieces that are not simply worn for a day, but pieces that become part of a family’s story for generations to come.
