Most women who come into the Queen Street shop are after one of two things, fine merino tops they can wear under a blazer or something properly heavy for when the southerly turns up, and the womens knitwear on this page is laid out with both in mind. About half of it you could wear to the office and the rest is happier with jeans. Nearly all of it is designed and knitted here in NZ (Merinomink, Untouched World and Noble Wilde make a good share), so the womens wool clothing you see is the same stock we have on the shop floor. Not sure where to begin? Try a mid weight piece of womens merino, since it does spring on its own and July under a coat.
NATURAL FIBRES, HONEST CRAFTSMANSHIP
People often ask us what the difference is between the fibres, and the honest answer is that it comes down to feel. Merino is warm but light, which makes it the one to buy if you are only buying once. Possum merino is softer again and has a slightly fuzzy halo that some customers love on sight and others need a week to come round to, while alpaca hangs well in a long wrap. Then there is cashmere, which plenty of our visitors ask for by name. Ours comes as a cashmere blend, in sweaters, wraps, capes and scarves, and it is, frankly, the treat. None of it is acrylic. That matters because real womens wool clothing breathes and does not hang on to smells, and it will keep its shape for years if you wash it cool and dry it flat, which is how most households in NZ have always looked after their woollens.
KNITWEAR THAT TRAVELS WELL
A big share of the ladies who shop with us are visiting from overseas, which is why so much of our womens merino knitwear is picked with a suitcase in mind. A fine knit rolls up to about the size of a paperback, the creases drop out once you hang it in a steamy bathroom, and the same piece that kept you warm on a cold morning in Auckland will go over a dress on a summer evening in Europe. So if you are choosing a single piece of womens merino clothing to take home, pick the one you would be happy to wear three days running, because you probably will.
SHOP THE WOMENSWEAR COLLECTION
Browse the full womens knitwear collection online, or visit us on Queen Street in Auckland to feel the difference for yourself. We ship worldwide and offer duty free shopping for international visitors, so a little piece of NZ can travel home with you.
