19-year-old photographer Lily McCondach launches her first book, honoring her great-uncle Colin Cole’s impact on New Zealand’s fashion scene.
Lily McCondach, a 19-year-old photographer from Canterbury, has ventured into the publishing world with her inaugural fashion photography book titled “Colin Cole – A Fashion Designer’s Legacy Inspiring the New Generation.” Released through the New Zealand Fashion Museum, the book centers on the life and work of her great-uncle, Colin Cole, a prominent fashion designer who made a significant impact on New Zealand’s fashion landscape from the 1950s to the 1980s.
McCondach’s journey into the world of photography began at a young age. “Since I was eight, I’ve had a camera in my hand,” she remarked, reflecting on her childhood spent immersed in creativity with her family. Encouraged by her mother, Paula McCondach, and her grandmother, Carolyn McCondach, Lily grew up engaging in various artistic pursuits, including sewing and painting. Even in primary school, she expressed ambitions of becoming a photographer or director, though she faced skepticism regarding the financial viability of such careers. Fortunately, her family fostered a strong belief in pursuing passion over practicality.
In her pursuit of creativity, McCondach left Lincoln High School at the end of year 12, taking a bold step towards her aspirations. She secured a position at a photography studio after a chance discovery of a job application that seemed too good to be true, and this opportunity proved pivotal in launching her professional career. In 2023, she established her own photography business, Lily McCondach Photography, specializing in fashion and beauty portraits.
The inspiration for her book, which McCondach describes as more than just a fashion portfolio, is deeply rooted in her family legacy. Although Colin Cole passed away in 1987, prior to McCondach’s birth, she had grown curious about his work through family conversations. She reached out to Cole’s daughter, Lissy Robinson-Cole, seeking permission to photograph her great-uncle’s garments. What started as a personal project evolved into something much larger, with aspirations for significant exposure. “She was like, ‘this will be in magazines, this will be an article, this will be a fashion show,’ and I remember laughing,” McCondach said.
As she delved into the project, McCondach resurrected pieces from Cole’s collection, capturing their essence through her lens. The efforts culminated in a finished product that she found hard to believe she had accomplished. “It felt like this thing that was conceptual for so long, but to actually have it done and to share it doesn’t feel real,” she shared.
Upon announcing the book’s release on social media, McCondach received an overwhelming response from people who recounted their own experiences with Cole’s designs, including stories of wearing his creations on significant occasions such as weddings. “It was just so special to hear people still care so much for him,” McCondach noted, highlighting the lasting impact of Cole’s work.
The book allowed her to connect with her family’s heritage and strengthened her bonds with relatives she hadn’t known well. This connection was particularly poignant given the passing of her grandmother Carolyn, who had a close working relationship with Cole. Through this endeavour, McCondach felt a profound sense of gratitude, recognizing the importance of the experience in preserving her family’s legacy.
In addition to the digital version of her book available through the New Zealand Fashion Museum, McCondach is actively working on distributing physical copies to bookstores, libraries, and cafés. As part of her efforts to honor her great-uncle’s and grandmother’s legacies, McCondach is organizing a fashion show in Auckland to raise funds for the Cancer Foundation, continuing their commitment to charitable causes, including support for hospices established in memory of her aunt who passed away from cancer at a young age.
Source: Noah Wire Services
