From 2000s vintage to curated international offerings, here’s where to find the best fashion in the Garden City.
Designer Caitlin Crisp is
among them. She will present the only solo runway for the festival on Saturday night for her namesake label. The return to her home city is highly anticipated.
“I’ve got my family down there and such great friends and support network.”
She’s been working hard on the show alongside a dedicated team while parenting her newborn baby. Styled in-house, the runway will prioritise wearability and also add a sense of occasion.
For Caitlin, fond fashion memories of Ōtautahi are housed within the historic walls of Ballantynes (a department store where her own label is now stocked, fulfilling a long-term dream).
“Mum says that before I could walk, I was giving her attitude on what I was wearing. My favourite pastime is going into the city with Mum and shopping at Ballantynes – we used to have our mother-daughter dates. Have a hot chocolate, have a coffee and wander around.
“Shopping in the city has always been a lot of fun. I feel like that energy is really back now, with what they’ve done to rebuild it all.”
Within the inner-city, there are plenty of New Zealand labels to visit. Untouched World, Sylvester, Juliette Hogan, Ruby and Superette are all nestled within the walkable precinct near Ōtākaro Avon River.
Beyond the centre, there are also brands retailing directly to customers online, like Key Black, who stock sizes 10 to 26, or Aho, who produce ceramics, homeware and clothing for pēpi.
In this collection, we highlight boutiques and destinations with exciting perspectives – places that bring together pieces with a clear vision or convincing ethos. You’ll want to add these destinations to your list for your next trip to the Garden City.
Head of retail and buying Molly (left) with Abby.
Uncommon Shop
A haven for small designers and coveted international labels.
There’s a distinct offering of New Zealand excellence at this airy boutique including Caitlin Snell, Abel perfume and Commonplace Essentials (they’re currently stocked with the coveted Commonplace X McKinlays shoe collaboration).
Molly Cochrane, head of retail and buying at Uncommon Shop, is one of the welcoming faces in the store. She says Caitlin Crisp is popular among local labels and one of her personal favourites: “Her designs are not only beautiful and incredibly loved by our customers, but Caitlin herself is such a genuine, down-to-earth person who has stayed true to her values despite the rapid growth of her brand.”
In terms of international brands, there are Brit-pop-inspired garments from Peachy Den, stripy and colourful cuts from London’s Damson Madder and ruffled puffs from Australian Apres Studio.
It’s an especially good stop for locally made jewellery. There are organic, textural silver pieces by Dangerous Goods, Bebe Mae, Mothmade Jewels and neater offerings from Chills, Porter Jewellery and Wolf Circus.
Address: Shop 11, 3 Garlands Rd, Woolston
Infinite Definite
A cool and collected spot with a distinct perspective.
This independent streetwear store has been operating since 2008, when Jono and Sarah Moran opened their hub on High St. The spot offers a curation of pieces from New Zealand designer labels including Buddy, Penny Sage, Kowtow, Wynn Hamlyn, Twenty-Seven Names, Marle and Yu Mei, among others. There is also clothing from highly coveted international brands, like Deiji Studios, Toast and Carhartt.
Puzzles, perfumes and cookbooks are among Infinite Definite’s homeware collection. It makes the store a good option for finding high-quality and interesting gifts for loved ones.
Jono and Sarah occasionally utilise their platform to spotlight local arts and culture. The latest lookbook features singer-songwriter Georgia Knight, who just released her first album Desire and has recently relocated from Naarm/Melbourne to Ōtautahi.
Plume
A long-term beacon of New Zealand and international luxury.
Margarita and Chris Robertson of Nom*D opened this second location of Plume in 1992, after the original Dunedin store firmly established itself as a destination for local and international excellence in 1978. The store, a slick and minimal operation, is run by a collection of knowledgeable fashion figures who will each offer insights into the high-quality stock.
The Company of Strangers, Jimmy D, JPalm, Rory William Docherty and Zambesi are among their New Zealand designers.
This weekend, Plume will also lend pieces from its international collection (think Ann Demeulemeester, Comme des Garçons, Dries Van Noten and Melitta Baumeister) to The Edit runway at Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival. The show will be curated by creative director Dan Ahwa.
Address: Shop 1/181 High St
Ballantynes
A historic department store with a sense of occasion.
As the oldest department store in Aotearoa, Ballantynes’ origins can be traced back to 1854, when it was called Dunstable House and the founders worked primarily as milliners and drapers. Throughout the time since it has been a site of fashion history, platforming parades and pageants through its cosy tearooms.
Now, Ballantynes stocks a wide range of contemporary garments by household names. Caitlin Crisp, Juliette Hogan, Yu Mei, Kowtow, Deadly Ponies and Karen Walker are among the local labels in store. Other international treasures from Vivienne Westwood and Superdry are also stocked on Cashel St.
As with any department store, Ballantynes’ interests extend beyond clothing, with food and wine, homeware and beauty products.
During the Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival, it will also play host to a personal shopping experience run by Ballantynes stylist Leigh-Anne Rheeder and Dan Ahwa.
Hapa
A superb store that spotlights more than 300 creatives.
Owners Maureen Taane (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Uekaha) and Blair Morton aim to platform indigenous and local crafts with Hapa. It began as a part of the Re:Start container mall in 2011 and now has two spots within Ōtautahi. At either location, you’ll find pounamu, heitiki, candles and pencils engraved with te reo Māori, along with more homeware like books and blankets.
In terms of apparel, you’ll find pieces by artist Miriama Grace Smith (bucket hats) and Haileigh Russell-Wright (“unapologetic wāhine” T-shirt).
Address: 111 Cashel St and 3 Garlands Rd, Woolston
Encompass Clothing
A destination for denim and jeans you’ll love forever.
Encompass offers a considered collection of denim and has the expertise in-store to guide your decisions (founder Benji is a fountain of knowledge for any question regarding fit, cut and colour).
With over 30 labels to choose from, including Nudie Jeans Co, K-Subi G-Star Raw and Diesel, there are jeans to suit all sorts of styles. However, streetwear is a pillar of Encompass, so those who gravitate to a more casual style will find lots to love.
Address: The Tannery, 26/3 Garlands Rd, Woolston
Nifty
A super sweet store for high-quality consignment clothing.
This baby-pink storefront sings on Cashel St, with a broad stock of vintage, NZ labels and secondhand clothing – think Von Dutch, Ruby, Wynn Hamlyn and pieces from when Glassons was made in NZ.
With plenty of spaghetti straps, low-waist jeans and an Instagram littered with flash photography of Jessica Alba, Serena Williams and the Olsen twins, there’s a clear penchant for 2000s style.
This Saturday, Nifty will also play host to its November Flea Market with a stall hawking vintage, secondhand, locally made goods and coffee. On November 22, its carpark will also welcome Crushes Clothing Swap as Auckland’s most mindful boutique pays Ōtautahi a visit.
Natural Hand
An artistic space for slow fashion and pondering practice.
Natural Hand, to be found in The British Hotel in Ōhinehou Lyttelton, is run by designer Ella Van Beynen. Among the collection of clothing, jewellery and objects, you’ll find pieces not commonly available to view anywhere else. Designers like Steven Junil Park 박준일, Bonnie Wroe, J’ake and Paige Jansen deliver their distinct and considered perspectives in a space with a slow pace.
The showroom is a favourite of local Sharon Ng, who also stocks various artisanal designers through Ng Space and hosts occasional pop-ups.
This weekend, Natural Hand will collaborate with The Keep’s Lela Jacobs to produce a show for the Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival. The runway is the only showing in Lyttelton, and will platform designers with a slow fashion interest and handcraft.
Address: 10 Oxford St, Lyttelton
Head Over Heels
A dynamic collection of footwear with notable local and international names.
This shoe shop is steered by mother-daughter duo Mary and Greta Washington, who first opened the store in Timaru before shifting to Ōtautahi.
The collection of occasional footwear is extensive, encompassing local labels like Ardour, Deadly Ponies and McKinlays alongside international names like Nelson Made (Australia) and Elena Iachi (Italian). Right now, there’s a colourful new collection of summer sandals and heels, with Bronwyn’s latest range sitting front and centre.
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