Meet the 2025 frame team: our director & CEO Rachel.
RACHel smart- Director & CEO
How long have you worked at Frame for?
I founded Frame in August 2016- Frame is nearly 8 years old!
What do you love most about your role?
Representing an incredible list of over 100+ clients. Over the past 8 years, Frame has partnered with all my favorite local and global brands and I feel proud to help them with their recruitment and HR needs. And of course- I love working with my talented and supportive Frame team.
Tell us about your career background before Frame?
I’ve had quite a diverse career! I spent 12 years working between the media and fashion industries across NZ and Australia. Some of my most recent roles before Frame were a NSW & ACT state manager / NZ franchise operations manager for a fashion accessories brand based out of Sydney, and a senior business development manager for NZME based out of Christchurch. I’ve also always been involved with the arts and spent a year with The Court Theatre as their sponsorship manager, and I was on the board for the Centre of Contemporary Art Gallery in Christchurch, supporting them with marketing and sponsorship. When I founded Frame, I also Co-founded a social media & PR agency called The Social Project, which I ran with my business partner for 4 years alongside Frame.
What are your predictions for the fashion job market in 2025?
I am an optimistic person - and after catching up with a few brands recently, I’ve heard positive stories about retail trade picking up compared to last year - so I feel like the job market will start to improve too. We’ve placed several head office roles already this year, mostly in the marketing and design areas which is a promising start to 2025.
Favorite brands to shop:
Kowtow, Anine Bing, Moochi, Aje, Marle. I’m also guilty of an occasional ASOS shop too.
What do you love doing in your spare time?
I love to surf in summer, and ski in winter! I also love getting out for a walk with the kids in the pram or backpack, catching up with friends, reading, and going to the Marlborough Sounds on holiday whenever we get the chance.
Tell us a wild fact about yourself:
I have irish twins! My youngest two kids are 9 months apart; Goldie is 18 months and Wilbur is 9 months old…. It’s been a very busy year bts juggling home and work life!
