Whether it’s polos, shorts, skirts or jerseys, Rob and Dot Neiman have principled the craft of creating a uniform that Nelson’s students could be proud to wear each day.
Following Dot’s success in homemade children’s wear, she and Rob, a contract supervisor at the time, were approached to consider making the school essential.
After beginning production at home in 2002 and producing for two years, demand had excelled and the home operation was proving too small.
The answer was to find a larger space, and Annesbrook-based Dot Neiman Leisurewear opened in 2004.
“At the peak we were making uniforms for 11 schools all-round the Nelson area,” Rob says.
“It’s been a challenge, it’s been satisfying, and we’ve always set out to produce a better-quality garment than you can buy in the retail sector.
“People have criticised at times the cost of our uniforms, but it is all made locally, and we’ve got to put up with freight, we’ve got to put up with wage increases, but we’re still able to produce a good quality product and compete with imported fabric.”
Rob says he and Dot currently produce uniform items in a range of sizes for Henley, Birchwood, Stoke and Enner Glynn schools, and had previously provided for schools such as Garin College, Nelson College for Girls and Nelson and Broadgreen Intermediate.
“At this time of year we would be doing the winter uniforms for the girls’ college, and then during the winter, their summer blouses, it peaked on close to 900 blouses we had to do,” he says.
Dot, 79, says after two decades keeping students sharply dressed, she and Rob, 82, believe it’s time to take a break, and will attempt to sell the business in the coming months.
“One lady came in the other day and asked me if I was retiring, and she said ‘you can’t, you have to wait until my kids go through primary, please’,” she says.
“We’ve always worked for the schools and not for the money, and this is why I think we’ve never had to advertise.
“I think we need a rest,” Dot says.
“We’ve got a house at Little Kaiteriteri, so we’ll spend a lot more time over there and we would like to travel around the South Island.”
With the retirement of Dot and Rob, some schools are looking to take the opportunity to re-design their uniform.
For enquiries about the business call Dot or Rob on 5476318.
