Pat Hewitt

Pat Hewitt (nee Warhurst, 1927-2012) was born in Clyde, and grew up in Alexandra, and was a self-taught dressmaker and designer.

After a period in London, where she had established a small following for her fashion designs and was making a living from her sewing, she returned to Central Otago and married Robert Hewitt, whose family ran furnishing and drapery business in Alexandra.

Pat established her own clothing label, One Only, at this time, selling her day and evening dresses, suits and ensembles in Hewitt’s store and in Dunedin, at Margaret Farry-Williams’ Vanity Walk shop and Society Gowns owned by Netta Anderson (nee Dickson).

Eden Hore met Pat Hewitt was one of the garden parties she held to promote her clothing label, and the two became collaborators. Eden Hore not only purchased gowns off her, but arranged for her to make up designs for him to add to the collection of ‘high and exotic fashion’.

Some of Pat’s One Only designs were available for sale at the fundraising fashion shows Eden Hore did in his own garden and around Otago and Southland through the 1970s.