What a pleasant surprise was waiting for me when I ventured to Karangahape Road (K’Road) in Auckland last week. If truth be told I was on a mission to find some accessories for a French renaissance/formal event I was going to on Saturday night and wanted a hand-held fan, evening gloves and a black men’s tie.  I can happily say that I found all I needed by way of the $2.00 shop and Xia (a store worth browsing through for an assortment of goodies) from Buddha’s, to paper fans, to lamps and peacock feathers).  Check it out at 17 Mercury Lane, off K’Road in Newton.  It was a treasure-trove of all sorts.  I’d even be so bold to say, you could find some bargain christmas presents there for sure.

Across from Xia was we-ar.it situated at 29 Cross Street in Newton. In their second year of business, their ethos is all about “innovating clothing production with respect to human ecology and natural earth systems”.  Much of the clothing is designed over in Waiheke but made in Bali, where they have 2 stores.

They promote the use of “organic textiles, ethical labour and natural dyes”. There were beautiful natural cotton tops, shorts and dresses that truly felt lovingly made and crafted.  I spied a lace dress in cream and also in ink green I liked.   I tried the dress on, with some we-ar.it shorts and singlet top. It looked great.  I decided the shorts were a more practical under-garment then the usual slip-dress on offer.  I bought the dress (in ink green) and the shorts.  Both came neatly packaged in what would be described as a yoga bag with a swing tag that explained $1.00 from the sale of the garment was going to manifest social prophecy.  There were 2 incense sticks wrapped nicely together – again with ‘a social conscience’ note and I felt quite literally ‘at one’ with my purchases.  A yoga lifestyle clothing brand, we-ar.it really demonstrated a synergy and ethos that was present the moment you stepped through the door, and resonated in their entire brand and its surroundings.  It was an experience I would like from all retailers.  Definitely take a visit.