TWO OF A KIND

Nadya France-White and Prak Sritharan champion design in their new concept store and gallery

The duo behind a new concept store and gallery

Kaukau store is the sum of two great parts – Nadya France-White and Prak Sritharan. Who, before embarking on their joint venture, were each responsible for two of Wellington’s finest concept stores; ENA and Precinct 35, the former run by Nadya and the latter by Prak. Five years of managing their stores, which were directly across the road from one another, eventually led them to the conclusion they could achieve even more if they joined forces. So, after closing their respective stores, Kaukau opened its doors in early 2021 and revealed a thoughtfully and expertly curated retail space dedicated to art and design, and showcasing emerging and existing talent in the industry.

Talk us through the name of the store. Kaukau in te reo translates ‘to swim’ or ‘to bathe’. The ‘au’ is pronounced as a ‘ow’, so it rhymes with flow. With Kaukau we were drawn to the fluidity of the moana, the idea of things ever-changing and moving – one body of water being the element that binds us all together. With this in mind we designed the store to be modular, we wanted the space to have the capacity to adapt and change and to be able to react with the objects in it.

What do you want people to feel when they enter your store? And what do you hope they feel when they leave? We want them to feel an appreciation for seeing something out of the ordinary and take the time to learn why and how that is. In doing so, we hope they leave with a lasting impression, knowing that they can support a very special community in Aotearoa.

Who are some of the makers you are currently featuring in the store? We have just received a series of ceramics from Josh Taylor of Ford’s Factory. The range was made while Josh was on a residency at Driving Creek

OPPOSITE Nadya France-White sets out candles made by Kiwi store Curionoir. TOP Pieces from New Zealand based wood-working studio Walk In The Park sit on the bespoke plaster cabinets made for the store. ABOVE The custom-built wooden shelving was made by Nadya and Prak’s friend Tom Martin.

TWO BECOME ONE Nadya and Prak wanted to challenge the retail norms they’ve discovered within the industry and offer their customers something unique. “This was our chance to do that,” says Nadya. “Kaukau sets itself apart by operating and being informed by a set of principles and values – our kaupapa.”