{{Short description|New Zealand fashion designer (1931–2020)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox fashion designer | name = Bruce Papas | birth_name = Stephanos Bruce Papas | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | parents = {{plainlist|Steven Papas (Staevros Papadopoulos)|Agnes Kirkland Papas ({{nee|Galloway}})}} | relatives = {{plainlist|Jessie (sister)|Mervyn (brother)}} | education = {{plainlist|Ponsonby Primary School|Seddon Memorial Technical College}} | occupation = Fashion designer }}
'''Bruce Papas''' (31 March 1931 - March 2020) was a New Zealand fashion designer.
== Education and early life ==
Papas' mother's family emigrated from Scotland to Hokianga, and his father came from Greece. His parents met when his father traveled to Northland to work on the gum fields. Papas' parents moved to Auckland after they married. Papas trained as a cabinet maker at Seddon Memorial Technical College in Auckland when the fashion designer Flora MacKenzie came across an example of his glass work. She offered the then 15-year-old a job in her fashion boutique, Ninette Gowns.<ref name="New Zealand Fashion Museum">{{cite web|last1=Dix|first1=Kelly|title=Bruce Papas|url=http://www.nzfashionmuseum.org.nz/b/bruce-papas/|website=www.nzfashionmuseum.org.nz|publisher=New Zealand Fashion Museum|accessdate=23 March 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 1950, Papas settled at Titirangi in West Auckland.<ref name="West-Cloth">{{cite book |last1=Schamroth |first1=Helen |chapter=Shaping the Cloth |pages=405–407 |editor-last1=Macdonald |editor-first1=Finlay |editor-link1=Finlay Macdonald (editor) |editor-last2=Kerr |editor-first2=Ruth |title=West: The History of Waitakere |publisher=Random House |date=2009 |isbn=9781869790080}}</ref>
== Career == During his five-year apprenticeship, Papas learnt about fabrics, design, drafting, pattern making, hand cording and embroidery. He left Ninette Gowns to start his own business named Staevros Gowns after his father who had recently passed away.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Dress Circle|last=Hammonds|first=Lucy|last2=Lloyd Jenkins|first2=Douglas|last3=Regnault|first3=Claire|publisher=Random House|year=2010|isbn=9781869621810|location=New Zealand|pages=78–79}}</ref> He worked from a room in his mother's house that had fitting rooms on one side and a work space on the other. Bruce continued to specialise in haute couture for a small number of clients, some of whom followed him from Ninette Gowns. His wedding and bridesmaids gowns, in particular, received much acclaim. However, he was soon called up for compulsory training with the RAF.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/collections/topics/bruce-papas-advocate-of-elegance|title=Bruce Papas: Advocate of elegance|last=Dix|first=Kelly|website=Auckland War Memorial Museum}}</ref>
On his return, Papas was headhunted by the department store Milne & Choyce. They were looking for a full-time designer to create three ranges a year – approximately 500 styles – and manage a workroom of 50 staff.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/44291/bruce-papas-advertisement-1958|first=Kerryn |last=Pollock|magazine=Fashion and textile design - Firmer footing, 1950s and 1960s |title=[Bruce Papas advertisement, 1958]|via=Te Ara|language=en|date=22 October 2014|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> Papas was the head designer for Milne & Choyce, overseeing a staff of 50.<ref name="West-Cloth"/> A gown produced by Papas was worn by the Queen of Tonga, Sālote Tupou III, at the Coronation of Elizabeth II.<ref name="West-Cloth"/>
Later in life, he established a salon on Queen Street, working until he retired in the early 1980s.<ref name="West-Cloth"/>
== Awards and recognition == In 1961, Papas won the inaugural Golden Shears Awards with his Golden Peacock gown.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Dress Circle|last=Hammonds|first=Lucy|last2=Lloyd Jenkins|first2=Douglas|last3=Regnault|first3=Claire|publisher=Random House|year=2010|isbn=9781869621810|location=New Zealand|pages=113}}</ref> A large collection of his garments and design sketches are held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/collections/topics/a-certain-style-bruce-papas|title=Tailoring Perfection|last=Groufsky|first=Jane|website=Auckland War Memorial Museum}}</ref>
== Exhibitions == In 2018, the New Zealand Fashion Museum celebrated Papas' legacy with an exhibition "A Certain Style: Bruce Papas.<ref name="spinoff">{{cite news|last1=de Pont|first1=Doris|title=A certain style: moving fashion forward by looking back|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/auckland/4-days-of-fashion/16-03-2018/a-certain-style-moving-fashion-forward-by-looking-back/|accessdate=24 March 2018|work=The Spinoff|date=16 March 2018}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Papas, Bruce}} Category:New Zealand fashion designers Category:1931 births Category:2020 deaths