Italian designer Romeo Gigli but quickly expanded to include Japanese designers. In the 1980s New Zealand opened up to the importation of overseas fashion. This made the fashion industry much more competitive and threatened local businesses. Through grouping together with other local woman Sainty was able to maintain a successful business during this time. In 1986 Sainty also began to venture into furniture design. She collaborated with Brain Heighton, a woodworker who aided her in making her designs functional. She had designed her first piece seven years before but never previously set aside time to pursue it seriously. In 2002, she designed costumes for the play The World's Wife by Miranda Harcourt. In the 2006 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the fashion industry. Sainty retired from fashion in 2005. The exhibition Au Revoir, Marily Sainty was curated to mark her retirement. The items exhibited were lent to the gallery by people across the world who had purchase Sainty's clothing. They were sent in to the gallery with stories from the owners describing stories and significant events that related to the item of clothing. The exhibition was curated by Deborah Smith, a photographer who had worked with Sainty for over 10 years. Sonja Batt continues to run the Scotties stores. Awards and recognition Exhibitions 1988 New Zealand Contemporary Furniture exhibition Auckland Museum 1995 Objects of Desire City Gallery, Wellington 2000 Dust Cloak Hawkes Bay Museum 2005–2006 Au Revoir, Marilyn Sainty Object Space References 1947 births Living people New Zealand fashion designers New Zealand women fashion designers Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit People from Hamilton, New Zealand New Zealand furniture designers