World

World was created in 1989 in New Zealand. The background is decidedly romantic. Founders Denise L´Estrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper met at a bus stop in London, got married in Edinburgh and after their wedding decided on the spur of the moment to go and live in New Zealand. ´On the spur of the moment´ is the right phrase here, because neither Denise nor Francis had the slightest idea what they were going to do in New Zealand — it´s just what they felt like doing. But then the newlyweds spent all their savings on a tiny little shop in Auckland — and that was also something they did on the spur of the moment, as they had nothing to sell there. And even when the first World collection appeared, it didn´t get any easier: Denise was ready to kiss any visitor to the shop who wasn´t just browsing and actually wanted to buy something (the male customers, of course — Francis was going to look after the female customers).