Margaret Fogel, a trained seamstress from Christchurch, started a women’s fashion enterprise of their own with her husband Adam. Initially making lace blouses Ninon Modes began in the front room of the Fogel’s apartment in Wellington. The business grew as their garments found a place in the region’s department stores. With this success the business expanded to make other outerwear for women and moved to bigger premises. It established a reputation for its quality and its wide appeal to ordinary women making clothes under the Ninon, Fashioncraft and Maggie Adams labels. Their son Ashley took over the business in 1980.