Find out all about the not-to-miss attractions and on the North Island of New Zealand. From our local expert to you.
Not-so-common threads
Universally known for taking a dark view of fashion, New Zealand designers have been lightening up over the years, but haven't lost their edge. The international names include
Karen Walker,
Zambesi,
World,
Kate Sylvester,
NomD and
Trelise Cooper (okay, she doesn't
do dark) and they all have one or two stores that are easily found in Auckland.
But if you want to pick up a few pieces that you are unlikely to see elsewhere, there's a string of other designers to get excited about. Cybele, who's known for her stunning original prints and clever, yet beautiful designs doesn't have her own store, so visit her website for stockists. Other individualists include Miss Crab, who — much like her name — is dark and quirky, and stocks equally likeminded individuals, Lonely Hearts, Deborah Sweeney, Laurie Foon, Beth Eller, Hailwood, Jimmy D, Richard Moore, RJC, Sabatini, MAW and Stolen Girlfriends Club. Not stocked here but worth checking out if you are heading south is Alexander Owen.
Grungy K Road and St Kevin's Arcade do good vintage clothing, and for emerging designers, visit Children of Vision.
Stroll both sides of Ponsonby Road and you'll find big and little names. As well as Zambesi and World, there's Trilby, Jaimie, Wallace Rose, Widdess, Juliette Hogan, Sera Lilly, Doris Du Pont, Robyn Mathieson, Tanya Carlson, Storm, Sabine and others.
In the CBD, all the big names (Zambesi, Karen Walker, World, Kate Sylvester, Workshop) can be found on High Street, O'Connell Street and Vulcan Lane. Made stocks a selection of local and international labels, from Carhartt to Luella, as does the very cool My Hart.
If you are travelling on a budget you'll find many of these labels conveniently recycled at Tatty's, the vintage and second-hand fashion store. Workshop also has an outlet store in Ponsonby.
Scotties is something of a fashion institution and supports select local labels, as well as stocking Europe's finest, including Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, McQueen and Martin Grant. For extra cash, some of Scotties' clients take their designer duds to Scotties Recycle (2 Blake Street, Ponsonby), which is full of tempting threads, shoes and accessories at a fraction of their original price.
Another great find is Jetset Bohemian in neighbouring Grey Lynn (35c Surrey Crescent), which stocks fab finds manufactured in Asia that never made it to the European boutiques — ideal for those with a frock fetish.
Newmarket offers a compact fashion precinct — check out Teed, Morrow, Balm and Nuffield Streets and Broadway.
Art starter
Sometimes it feels like there's an exhibition opening every night of the week in Auckland — make the most of this vibrant and sophisticated art scene by gallery hopping and purchasing from the affordable while window shopping the oh-so-not. Get started with the
Walk of Art in Auckland's CBD and spread out from there. Visit
Artzone.co.nz for an A-Z of gallery listings.
Got any more near the beaten track suggestions? Have your say using the comments form below.
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