A FAMILY AFFAIR
@rubytakessnaps
CHRISTINE AND VERE SHARMA WITH CHILDREN ANNA-LISE SHARMA, LIAM SHARMA AND EMILY MILLER-SHARMA
OWNERS OF DE VERE TEXTILES; RUBY; LIAM; MODERN MANNERS
In 1988, Vere and Christine Sharma — the former with a background in fashion and textiles, and the latter with experience in buying and retail — started their own textile business, De Vere Textiles, out of their then-home in Devonport, Auckland. Initially focused on importing and supplying fabric to customers both in New Zealand and offshore, the husband and wife team would, over the course of the next 20 years, branch out into fabric production and the importation and distribution of manufactured garments to their local and international clients. In 2008 came the company’s foray into retail with the purchase of fledgling New Zealand label and then-client, Ruby. Today, De Vere is a multifaceted business spanning both retail and corporate uniforms, with capabilities in design, fabric and garment production, logistics and distribution and retail store sales and operations.
Suffice to say, the Sharmas can’t do it alone. Thankfully, a dedicated staff of 75 helps to keep every aspect of the business ticking over — among them, three of Vere and Christine’s five adult children.
The eldest, Emily Miller-Sharma (34), is general manager of Ruby and designer for sister brand Liam. 27-year-old Anna-Lise Sharma started out as Ruby brand manager in 2013 after two years spent working in PR. She returned to the family business in 2017 following 18 months immersed in London’s fashion and retail scene, and now heads Ruby’s marketing and business
