Support Your Local: My Favourite New Zealand Brands
Support your local!
I’m off to Laneway festival on Monday and while I was contemplating about what I was going to wear, I started thinking about all of the incredible local New Zealand brands we have and how important it is to make sure we support them. With the rise of global trends and international influence on social media, I feel like some of our local brands can often be overlooked and that we can forget how good we have here on NZ soil in terms of fashion, homeware, and even beauty.
I recall seeing a quote that said something like, “every time you support a small business, a real person does a little happy dance” and now every time I’m tempted to buy something off ASOS, I go to my mental list of NZ brands and retailers instead to make sure I’m supporting my local as much as possible.
Here’s a list of my favourites so that you can do the same!
I’ve really got a soft spot for Ruby. I feel so lucky to have a wonderful relationship with the Ruby team however my obsession with the brand started when I was around 16. Launching multiple collections per season, Ruby is my go-to for both wardrobe staples and fun pieces to jazz up my outfits. Bonus that everything is so beautifully made and lasts for years in my wardrobe!
Recently I’ve been moving towards cleaner products and when I think about clean beauty, Sans Ceuticals is one of the first brands that come to mind. Beautiful ingredients and packaging to be proud of sitting on your sink, I’m obsessed.
If you’re wanting to shop more second hand but you’re a premium wear / designer label girl through and through, look no further than Tatty’s. The Ponsonby Road store is my favourite and every time I go in I see so many incredible pieces from high end international brands (Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant etc) to premium NZ labels such as Harman Grubisa, Karen Walker, Ruby and so many more.
I feel like Citta have been the front runners of the NZ homeware industry for a long time now, however it doesn’t make me any less in love with the brand. All of my bedding is from their linen range and I can vouch that it’s all such incredible quality and worth every penny! I also love how they work seasonally in terms of colour and textures so that you can update your home with the seasons when new products are released.
I may be a little bias because of my best friends just launched this brand, but if you’re engaged or you have a friend, sister, daughter who just got engaged, Something Blue is an incredible gift idea to spoil the female in your life in the lead up to her wedding day!
If you’re after that wild & free beachy barefoot look or just clothing that is made of the most gorgeous fabrics, look no further than Beach Knickers. This brand is so up my street and I love that everything is made here with love in New Zealand.
Classy, but most importantly, effective skincare. Their main ingredient is ethically sourced Deer Milk which naturally contains all the best ingredients that you want in your skincare regimen including lactic acid and retinol. My favourite products are their Exfoliating Cleansing Milk, Rejuvinating Serum and Brightening Eye Cream
Another home brand I completely obsessed with. They sell almost everything for the home that you can imagine and I really love their wall prints and 2020 diaries.
Inspired by the ocean, this brand uses active ingredients from the sea such as marine collagen and seaweed extract in their products to nourish, hydrate and repair the skin. My favourite products are the Aqua Gel Refreshing Toner and the Aqua Hydrating Masque.
My season shoe go-to’s. I’ve worked with the brand for about 2 and a half years now and I can honestly tell you so much love, passion and creativity goes into every shoe design that Mi Piaci create.
When I think about clothes in my wardrobe that last, it’s always my basic pieces from Marle. A brand I will always go-to for my seasonal staples that are so well made using sustainably sourced fabrics.
The sturdiest bag investment you will ever make, my Saben bags are also the ones that always get the most compliments when I’m out and about. Every style is so perfectly crafted but I love that they’re always releasing new colourways of all their staple designs so that if there’s a bag you love to death, you can always update it in a new season colour.
Newly launched, I’ve actually never purchased anything from this brand but I’ve had my eye on it for a wee while now. The simplicity of Caitlin Crisp designs have me swooning and I really love their dedication to supporting the NZ textiles industry by using local suppliers.
I also asked for your favourite New Zealand brands and retailers on Instagram, so here’s a list of your favourites!