ON THE ROAD
Tour the country’s stylish boutiques
SISTERS AND CO.
208 Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui
Provenance: A fashion obsession and a passion for customer service led Rodelle Payne to open multi-brand concept store Sisters and Co. in 2007. Her clients have been enjoying an indulgent, bubbles-in-hand retail experience ever since. Stockists of: Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, and all the usual New Zealand suspects.
Point of difference: With a styling room where you can have a post-purchase mani or blow-dry, Sisters is a one-stop date-night shop.
For the armchair traveller: sistersandco.co.nz
CONTAIN
634a Port Rd, Whangamata Provenance: Owner Karan Gregory opened Contain in 2012, having decided that someone needed to cater for Whangamata’s more discerning shoppers and it might as well be her. Stockists of: A mix of Australasian labels including Karen Walker, Juliette Hogan, Camilla & Marc and Bassike. Point of difference: Offering a fashion-forward retail experience in a market saturated with surf and streetwear stores. Oh, and it’s housed inside two converted shipping containers. For the armchair traveller: containboutique.co.nz
ATAMIRA
11 Bankart St, Raglan Provenance: Opened in 2007 by Nadine Meddings, Atamira (Te Reo Māori for ‘platform’ or ‘stage’) showcases “thoughtful, beautiful design and ideas from New Zealand and beyond”.
Stockists of: Kate Sylvester, Kowtow, and other (mostly local) labels that align with the store’s core values of quality, creativity, and integrity.
Point of difference: A selection of New Zealand music and literature – handpicked for its “aroha and good energy” – occupies a separate space that connects Atamira to its menswear branch, The Corner Store.
For the armchair traveller: atamira.co.nz
Phoebe Watt finds that when it comes to boutique shopping, small towns know how to do it well
AROHA + FRIENDS
9b Ossian St, Napier Provenance: Previously known as MIA, Aroha + Friends rebranded in 2012 when husband-and-wife owners Rakai Karaitiana and Melaina Newport consolidated their separate fashion and design businesses and moved over the hill to Ahuriri.
Stockists of: A refined edit of top New Zealand brands, including Zambesi, NOM*d and Miss Crabb.
Point of difference: The store doubles as a freelance design studio and print department specialising in modern and traditional printing.
For the armchair traveller: arohaandfriends.co.nz
ET VOUS
118 Devon St West, New Plymouth
Provenance: First opened in 2007, Et Vous recently reopened in a space that holds true to owner Kate Macfarlane’s aim of providing a “beautiful environment for women to feel wonderful in”. Stockists of: Trelise Cooper, Deadly Ponies, and an exclusive range of European labels and objects sourced on twice yearly trips to France, Spain, Italy and Turkey.
Point of difference: The store is adjacent to a number of eateries in the Macfarlane family portfolio, taking the guesswork out of where to refuel.
For the armchair traveller: etvous.co.nz
TROUBLE & FOX
Shop 4, Bank Lane, Nelson Provenance: Craig Fox (from South Africa) and Liberty Greig (from Australia) met in the USA, moved to New Zealand (via London and Turkey), settled down in Nelson and opened their boutique in 2010.
Stockists of: An extensive range of mid to high-end brands, from Ladakh and Lonely to Rolla’s and Ruby. Point of difference: While the sole focus of Trouble & Fox is womenswear, men are catered to right next door at sister store (or more accurately, brother store), Sidecar.
For the armchair traveller: troubleandfox.co.nz NG BOUTIQUE
212 Madras St, Christchurch Provenance: A commitment to showcasing the best in contemporary fashion coupled with a desire to support emerging talent prompted Sharon Ng to open NG Boutique in 2004.
Stockists of: Cutting-edge local and international designers, including Comme des Garçons, AF Vandevorst and Haider Ackermann.
Point of difference: Sharon’s background in fashion design has given her an eye for distinctive detail, and she attends Paris Fashion Week to source clothing and accessories that she deems “not for safe dressers”.
For the armchair traveller: ngspace.co.nz
THOMAS’S
54 Market St, Blenheim Provenance: One of New Zealand’s oldest department stores, Thomas’s was opened in 1912 by Welshman John Emlyn Thomas and his wife Kathleen and has been kept in the family ever since – it’s now operated by their great-grandchildren.
Stockists of: Womenswear, menswear and homeware by the likes of Kathryn Wilson, Ted Baker, Huffer and Citta Design.
Point of difference: From the comprehensive wedding registry to suit-hire service, it’s a must-visit if you’re planning a wedding down south.
For the armchair traveller: thomass.co.nz
QUINNS
195 Papanui Rd,
Merivale, Christchurch Provenance: Patrick and Margaret Quinn opened
Quinns in 1973 and have dedicated 40-plus years to “meeting the needs of an on-trend market”.
Stockists of: Clothing, jewellery and accessories from locally and globally renowned designers such as Workshop, Dyrberg/Kern, Sass & Bide and Robert Clergerie.
Point of difference: Since day one, Margaret Quinn has personally selected every piece of the store’s inventory. If she doesn’t know what her customers want, then no one does.
For the armchair traveller: quinnsmerivale.co.nz 47FROCKS
Location: 47 Helnick Street, Wanaka
Provenance: Since 2010, the people of Wanaka have had 47Frocks to thank for their stylish après ski wardrobes. Stockists of: Established New Zealand brands plus new-gen designers including Georgia Alice, Julian Danger, Lela Jacobs, and Yu Mei.
Point of difference: Previously located across the road under the designation ‘47Lounge’, a soon-to-be-opened adjacent store space will offer a more relaxed edit of designer clothing, perfect for slipping into after all that fondue.
For the armchair traveller: 47frocks.co.nz
BELLE BIRD BOUTIQUE
327 George Street, Dunedin Provenance: Two university friends took over pre-existing boutique Atria in 2003. They immediately renamed it and began stocking a range of local labels as well as their own designs.
Stockists of: Clothing, jewellery and beauty products from such brands as Andrea Moore, Meadowlark, and Martina Organics.
Point of difference: As an Otago fashion graduate and founder of the Dunedin Fashion Incubator programme, owner Shelley Tiplady is an absolute fashion authority.
For the armchair traveller: bellebird.co.nz
ANGEL DIVINE
3 Searle Lane, Queenstown
Provenance: Occupying an industrial space in the heart of Queenstown, Angel Divine is a local institution that has developed an international cult following since it opened in 1997.
Stockists of: A who’s who of New Zealand fashion (Karen, Kate, Kathryn, Juliette, Lonely, NOM*d, Workshop, Zambesi), plus plenty of options from up-and-coming designers.
Point of difference: Its in-house brand, New Lands, which was launched in 2011 by owner Natalie Newlands.
For the armchair traveller: angeldivine.co.nz