Shop for local labels in Wellington

Visit Fairtrade and organic fashion brand Kowtow’s flagship store for a relaxing and mindful shopping experience. The Wellington label offers modern womenswear in minimal silhouettes. All of its products are made from renewable and sustainable fibres and ethical manufacturing.

The light and airy store reflects the brand’s ethos. Large windows provide transparency to the street outside. Shelves are made from sustainable materials. A comfortable couch encourages you to sit and relax. It’s a calm and welcoming space to take your time browsing the racks.

Wellington label twenty-seven names make whimsical and fun womenswear. Started by two best friends, the brand champions sustainability and ethical production.

You’ll find twenty-seven names’ flagship boutique on Ghuznee Street, at number 27. The light and open space leaves plenty of room for browsing. A restrained, minimal fit-out lets the clothes sing. The brand is known for colourful collections and playful prints. The bold pieces hang on gallery-like racks. Delicate dresses and crisp tailoring hang side-by-side, offering plenty of potential new favourites.

Wellington brand Yu Mei creates luxury leather bags and accessories. With a focus on functionality and quality, Yu Mei’s bags are largely made from New Zealand-farmed deer nappa. In a true meeting of style and sustainability, it’s a product that would otherwise go to waste, but makes for soft, premium accessories.

Local Jessie Wong started Yu Mei in 2015 when she couldn’t find a bag that could fit everything she needed for a day. The brand’s Wellington home is just below its workshop and is a minimal, and chic space. Referred to as one of its ‘lounges’, it’s comfortable and inviting. Shoppers are welcome to sit and chat, learning about the brand and trying products to find the perfect match.

For a quarter of a century, menswear store Mandatory has been providing Wellington and beyond with high-quality clothing, suiting, and accessories. Its pieces are designed and made at its Ghuznee Street store and workshop.

The industrial-sized space is one of the few workshops in the city where you can see the team making clothing in the workroom and putting it straight on the shop racks. If it’s quiet when you walk into Mandatory, you can hear the crisp ‘snip snip’ of scissors cutting through fabric or the juddering hum of a sewing machine.

Wilson Trollope makes clothes that make women feel great about themselves. The brand is feminine, classic yet contemporary, and inviting. It’s known for its wonderful dresses — complete with handy pockets. The designs are comfortable and flattering and sit beautifully on the body.

The brand’s flagship store is on a busy corner of Wellington’s Victoria Street. Floral prints and design touches bring the signature Wilson Trollope femininity to the space. It’s a warm and welcoming environment, with attentive staff on hand to help you find the perfect style.

Abel Odor’s (pronounced ‘ah-bell’) spot in the valley is part factory, part shop. It’s known as the ‘fabriek’, the Dutch word for factory. It’s the home base for the natural perfumery.

The brand was born from owner Frances Shoemack’s quest for a natural perfume that was as modern and chic as it was sustainable and ethical. Pop your head into Abel’s Aro Street shop, and you’ll likely find Frances herself. She’s often brewing up batches of natural scents ready for shipping across the world.

In store, shoppers can experience Abel’s scents in an engaging, personal way with the people who brought them to life.