Meet the Designer Part 3: Elisabeth Findlay on life
On immigrating to New Zealand…
My family came to New Zealand in May 1951 on the Goya from Europe. When I was growing up, I didn’t really know where I belonged. Mum was Greek but grew up in Russia. I was born in Greece. My father was Ukranian. And my passport said I was ‘Stateless’ until I was 21, which is normal [at the time]. I love Greece but I’m here where I belong; this is home.
On the importance of access to quality medical care…
I feel grateful all the time. One thing that comes to mind is Bruno, my grandson. When he was just a baby he was rushed into hospital and had to have a big op that saved his life and I’m incredibly grateful to Starship Hospital for that.
On why New Zealand is great…
Through the years we’ve travelled around New Zealand on road trips with the girls – boating and great holidays that were meaningful. If you ask the girls what their favourite moments are, it’s always the holidays with family. Also, after Mum died, my sister Margi (from Nom*D) and I decided to take a trip to Russia to meet Mum’s only brother before he passed away. It was amazing to meet our cousins. It was wonderful, but when I got [back to New Zealand], it felt like home to me.
On family priorities and a sense of community…
I live in Parnell. There are a lot of wonderful people that live in this community. I see faces that I say hello to all the time. Neville’s more part of the daily community as he wanders down and has a coffee at [the Italian eaterie] NSP. But for me, when I’m not at work, my priority is my family - that’s my community.
On being a working mum…
After having two babies, it was difficult to make a decision to keep going with the business. I got to the point when I said to Neville that it’s important to me that I’m a mother first. I could see that it would become more demanding. Neville said, ‘We can do this. I’ll give up work and be there for the girls’. I think with this support... we carried on. I loved the work, I loved dreaming things up and putting ideas to fabric. And I still do.
On being grateful…
I’m grateful for the love - the love I’m surrounded with, the opportunities I’m given to contribute. I’m grateful for my extended family around me. We all support one another and are there for one another.
On supporting Starship Hospital…
It’s very important that we have access to medical care at Starship Hospital – they’re amazing. You hear stories all the time. Most of us are touched by the work that Starship does – if not our immediate families, then friends’ families. It touches you and it’s important to be part of the support.
On favourite authors…
I love Toni Morrison, Jeffrey Eugenides, Jeanette Wilderson Wilkerson? – Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Haruki Murakami. Sometimes you wonder what life would be like if there was no music, or art or books and how dreadful it would be because those things lighten us up and move us, don’t they?
On a favourite quote by Leonard Cohen…
‘There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in’. It’s amazing and so true. I love Leonard Cohen’s work such as the song A Thousand Kisses Deepor and [his book of poetry] Book of Longing. I went to three of his concerts. I love listening to him, I love reading him. His words are incredible and meaningful – you get caught up in the emotion. I read [his biography] I’m Your Man – yep, he was amazing.
On your mind’s library…
I think the wonderful things about books, film, music and art is that you can collect them. You can you build up pictures in your mind which becomes a library that you can refer to when you’re lost.