About me

Founder of Vanilla Lane

About me!

Hi, I'm Amelia McKenzie, founder of Vanilla Lane Cases.

What started as a simple idea has grown into an international business with customers in over 100 countries, but Vanilla Lane has always been about more than phone cases.

I've always loved creativity, branding, and bringing ideas to life. Vanilla Lane was created as a space where I could combine business, design, marketing, and community impact into something meaningful. What began as a passion project quickly became an opportunity to connect with people around the world, build confidence in myself, and create something I was genuinely proud of.

Through Vanilla Lane, I have had opportunities I never imagined possible, from speaking on podcasts and collaborating with brands to being featured in publications including Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, and House & Garden. However, the most rewarding part of this journey has been using the platform to make a positive impact.

Vanilla Lane has helped raise funds for Youthline, supported community initiatives, and created opportunities for young creatives and young women to showcase their talents and build confidence in themselves. These experiences have shown me that business can be about so much more than selling a product; it can be a way to inspire, connect, and create opportunities for others.

My hope is that Vanilla Lane continues to grow not only as a brand, but as a platform that encourages young people to back themselves, pursue their ideas, and recognise their own potential.

Thank you for being part of the journey. This is only the beginning. 🤍

Winner of the GirlBoss NZ Digital impact award

Receiving the GirlBoss NZ Digital Impact Award was one of the most meaningful milestones in my entrepreneurial journey. The award recognised the work I’ve built through Vanilla Lane and acknowledged the impact of youth-led innovation, digital branding, and community-focused entrepreneurship. Being recognised alongside inspiring young leaders and entrepreneurs from across New Zealand was an incredibly motivating experience and reinforced my passion for continuing to grow Vanilla Lane into a brand with both creative and social impact. This achievement represents more than business success, it reflects the power of young people turning ideas into meaningful opportunities, using creativity to create influence, and building brands with purpose and authenticity. The experience further inspired me to continue pursuing entrepreneurship while encouraging other young people to believe in their own ideas, creativity, and potential.

I had the incredible opportunity to appear as a guest speaker on School Shorts hosted by Melissa Chan-Green, where I shared my journey of building Vanilla Lane as a young entrepreneur.

During the podcast, I spoke openly about the realities of balancing school life with running a business, the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship at a young age, and the importance of confidence, creativity, and resilience when pursuing ambitious goals.

We also discussed branding, social media, leadership, and how young people can use their passions and ideas to create opportunities for themselves beyond traditional expectations.

Being able to share my story on a national platform was incredibly meaningful, and I hope my experiences encourage other young people to pursue their ideas, step outside their comfort zones, and realise that age should never limit ambition.

Community

Case for a cause fundraiser

Case For A Cause was one of Vanilla Lane's most meaningful initiatives, empowering young creatives to showcase their talents through a youth-led fundraising campaign that combined creativity, entrepreneurship, and community impact to inspire confidence, support important causes, and demonstrate how business can create positive change.

sponsored a youth-led fundraiser for Cerebral Palsy

Supporting the youth-led fundraiser for Cerebral Palsy Australia reflected Vanilla Lane's commitment to using business as a platform for positive impact by supporting meaningful causes, raising awareness, and bringing communities together to create lasting change.

Founder and Lead of the Women in Business (WIB) Mentorship Programme

The Women in Business Mentorship Programme reflects my passion for empowering young women through mentorship, leadership development, and meaningful opportunities that build confidence, inspire ambition, and encourage the next generation of female leaders and entrepreneurs.

Empowering females to display their creative work on an international stage

One of the most rewarding parts of Vanilla Lane Cases has been creating opportunities for young girls, artists, and creatives to showcase their talents, build confidence, and share their creativity with the world.

The Kindness Collection

One of the most meaningful parts of creating The Kindness Collection has been inspiring acts of kindness through purposeful products that encourage compassion, celebrate meaningful connections, and remind people that even the smallest gesture can make a lasting difference.

Iphone 17 youthline giveaway

The iPhone 17 Youthline Giveaway was a collaborative campaign that brought together community engagement, creative marketing, and support for youth wellbeing, reflecting Vanilla Lane's commitment to using its platform to create meaningful connections while making a positive impact.

Sponsored by Harvey Norman

Receiving support from Harvey Norman was an exciting milestone for both myself and Vanilla Lane. Collaborating with one of New Zealand’s most recognised technology and retail brands provided valuable opportunities to further expand the reach and visibility of Vanilla Lane as a youth-led business.

Their sponsorship represented more than just support — it was recognition of the creativity, ambition, and growth behind the brand. Experiences like these have helped strengthen my passion for entrepreneurship and have given me valuable insight into partnerships, branding, and professional collaboration within the business industry.

As a young founder, opportunities like this continue to motivate me to grow Vanilla Lane into a brand that combines creativity, innovation, and meaningful impact.

Where we have been featured

Looking Ahead

Vanilla Lane represents far more than just a business to me, it represents creativity, ambition, growth, and the belief that young people are capable of building meaningful ideas into reality.

As both a student and entrepreneur, I’m excited to continue growing Vanilla Lane through future collaborations, creative projects, brand campaigns, and opportunities that combine innovation with purpose.

My long-term vision is to continue building a brand that inspires confidence, empowers creativity, and demonstrates the impact young entrepreneurs can create when they believe in their ideas.

Thank you for being part of the Vanilla Lane journey.