October 28, 2015

Let's talk about space

With our online roots established one year on from Kickstarter beginnings, the time had come to talk about space. We've always liked the the notion of a travelling Pop-Up so we decided to explore the idea on our home patch of Wellington, New Zealand. The entrée to in-person retailing began.

The Dominion Building at 78 Victoria Street emerged as our ideal site to camp, if only for a while. The Art Deco building is well situated at an elbow in the city's plan; Civic Square over the road, Willis and Lambton strips in one direction and Cuba Street and the city's arts and hospitality core in the other. The departure of a beloved Indian eatery left a space for us to claim and The Village Goldsmith next door confirmed camping was allowed. They became not only our landlord but our collaborators and friends.

Camp establishment was more reduction than addition. Floors were stripped of superfluous layers, walls and the pressed metal ceiling simply painted. The heavy columns throughout were exposed to proudly boast their earlier life supporting The Dominion's printing presses.

Our partners in Pop-Up included Wellington-based artist Max Patte as we had found a kinship between his cast iron and bronze works and our raincoats. Max's three "emotional portraits" all embody strength, vulnerability and elemental exposure with grace. The Village Goldsmith hung 'Deception... A Collection' amongst our racks to prompt that all may not be as it seems. Local mesh merchants Kaynemaile generously provided a screen to veil back of house, and allowed us to engage our preferred medium of rain.

With a successful month passed the time came to pack-down this beloved pop-up. It was a glorious place to sell coats, hear tales of your wear and talk about the future.