Otago Polytechnic Fashion graduate teams up with Disney

Otago Polytechnic Fashion graduate Anna Ross has teamed up with global giant Disney, creating a range of nail polishes to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday.

Anna, who graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Fashion) from Otago Polytechnic in 2008, worked for several years as a design assistant in Australia before making a major career transition to an entrepreneur.

The winner of the Young Telstra Victorian Business Women's Award in 2016, Anna founded Kester Black, a brand of ethically produced vegan nail polishes and soaps, in 2014.

Now one of Australia’s most recognised independent cosmetic brands, Kester Black is sold internationally in the United States, Malaysia, Japan and elsewhere.

Anna, a long-time fan of all things Disney, first visited Disneyland as a 14-year-old, when her parents took her family on the trip of a lifetime.

To celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th milestone, the Kester Black collection features five nail polishes in classic Mickey colours (red, yellow, white, black and a nude) in bottles displaying his silhouette. The same colours have been used to create a nail-art set.

Made in Australia, Kester Black’s products are palm oil-free, cruelty-free and vegan. The brand also plans to launch a certified organic range. 

*Disney will celebrate Mickey Mouse’s birthday on November 18, honouring the release of his first theatrical film, Steamboat Willie, on 18 November, 1928.