Viviana Pannell - Designer / Founding Director

Viviana Pannell, designer and director, was born and raised in Lima, Peru, a second generation Peruvian from her father’s side to a family of European immigrants from the French Basque region.  From her mother’s side, Viviana has both German and Spanish blood.  The history of both families is extremely rich featuring a prior President of the country and a national military hero. 

From early childhood, Viviana was captivated by creativity and fashion has been a life-long passion.  

Viviana did not study design but was convinced by her father to study business, graduating with a BBA in Business from the prestigious University of Lima.  Soon after graduating, Viviana landed a job as head fashion designer for a large knitwear firm in Lima quickly followed by starting her own label through which she exported high fashion alpaca knitwear to selected boutiques in the US and Spain. 

Viviana relocated to the USA (Houston, Texas) during the 1980s due to economic uncertainty amidst the terrorist activities of the Shining Path.    On completing a self-funded MBA from the University of Houston, Viviana was head-hunted by a major UK multinational and later declined a managerial position in what was then the fastest growing company in Houston, in order to follow her English husband to New Zealand.

Following the birth of two beautiful girls, Viviana re-commenced her fashion career launching Basquesse – a tribute to her father’s origins. Inspiration for the collections comes from Viviana’s dreams, nature, poems, memories, music and books.   Motivated by a desire to promote joie-de-vivre, Viviana seeks to create beauty expressed through garments which become objects of desire for women.  The company vision is to create a global brand which will last for generations – fuelled by rapid growth in overseas markets.

Basquesse Label Profile

“Trend setting, bold, architectural, flattering and wearable, Basquesse has a strong and undeniable European influence…” -  The Dominion Post

Basquesse has no connection whatsoever with the Basque label sold through Myer.

Formed  in 2001 though actively trading since mid-2003, the company has grown rapidly, participating in ANZFW in 2009, 2008 and 2004, the Melbourne Cup Invitation Only Designer Showcase in 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2006 (where Basquesse was the only NZ designer label to show) and many other high-end fashion shows and events such as the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.  Basquesse produces both prêt-a-porter ranges, made to order garments and bespoke couture - including bridal, red carpet and black tie.Basquesse is a vertically integrated high end women’s wear design house, manufacturer and retailer now based in Sydney, Australia - formerly Wellington, New Zealand.  Daring styling and use of colour and texture, superb finishing and line are its signature.  Basquesse makes clever use of luxurious fabrics mainly coming from Europe’s premium boutique mills who supply exclusively to Basquesse within New Zealand and Australia.  Unsurprisingly, Basquesse has been dubbed by fashion connoisseurs  as New Zealand’s fashion response to Europe, truly different, exquisitely tailored  and decadently chic. The Basquesse woman is typically aged between 25 and 55, a successful career woman with high disposable income, an independent thinker and decision maker, sybarite, hedonistic, self confident, self-appreciative and  well-travelled.  Requiring versatility, exclusivity and comfort in her wardrobe, she wants to stand out amongst her peers.  Basquesse clothing is not only sought after by stylish women throughout Australia and New Zealand but also by the truly chic from the USA, Canada, the UK , France and the rest of Continental Europe.  Basquesse has been exporting garments to loyal overseas clients for some years.  Curiously, about 20% of our retail clients are introduced to the brand by their male partners. Basquesse tries to make a small foot print on the planet’s finite resources as much as possible.  Not only are our garments truly made to last many, many years but the company actively seeks to procure fabrics from known ethical sources using ecologically-friendly processes.  Fabrics are produced with non-toxic dyes wherever possible.  All garments are currently produced in Australia and New Zealand precluding the exploitation of labour.  As a socially-responsible company, Basquesse frequently assists charitable and local good causes.  Over the years, the collections have morphed from contemporary wear into a semi-couture label where no effort is spared to produce a garment beautifully tailored as much on the inside as on the outside.