What sparked your love of vintage?

I made good friends with a few girls at university who I eventually ended up living with, and they were massive op shoppers. That’s when it really started for me. They definitely influenced my style and the way I started looking at clothes.

What's your favourite ever vintage find? 

In 2013, I bought a pair of old Barkers jeans from the Geraldine Red Cross for $1. They had belonged to a man named T. Smith. I loved them so much and wore them for years, until the classic rip in the bum happened. I’ve always had really vivid dreams, and even now, every few months I dream about going back to that op shop and having the best thrift of my life. I haven’t actually been back there for about eight years.

I have also thrifted some great yarn - I once struck gold in the Gisborne Salvation Army and found a big bag of very expensive yarn containing camel, silk, mohair, and wool. I still get reminded of how good that find was.

Is there an item you're currently looking for?

Some denim jeans. I find jeans hard to shop for. Another thrift favourite is a pair of jeans I got from Newtown in Te Whanganui a Tara a few years ago - they also ripped in the bum and I will keep searching until I find that exact style

If you could only source vintage from one place, where would that be?

I feel like this is an opportunity to shout out some of the vintage stores that have influenced me or stuck with me throughout my life. First is Elegantly Waisted Vintage Clothing Emporium in Temuka. Dad used to encourage me to go in there when I first started thrifting, and I would spend so long looking through everything. I think because I was so new to vintage shopping at the time, I found the whole place overwhelmingly whimsical, especially tucked away in the small rural town of Temuka in a heritage building. 

The owner opened the shop quite randomly, and she had glitter woven through her hair. The collection was mostly from the 50s through to the 80s, so not necessarily what I dress myself in now, but it was incredible and when I was new to it all, everything in there felt like a treasure.

Other shoutouts: Geraldine Red Cross, Thames Hospice Shop, Habitat for Humanity Panmure, Matamata Hospice Shop, Fever Vintage Tāmaki, Rosy Vintage (Copenhagen), NEUZWEI (Berlin), AWAYDAY for furniture.

What's a wardrobe or homeware piece you'll have forever? 

My māmā crocheted me a blanket; it's on my couch in my living room and it'll always be with me.

What's something you've read, watched, or seen recently that's inspired you?

He Toi o Te Kāinga/The Patterns of Home - Mere Whaanga. I recently purchased this pukapuka from the Māhia shop. Mere is a local who has been a writer and artist for years. She has now published a colouring book with all of her drawings and patterns of Te Māhia; I've loved looking through and seeing her toi.

Angela from my reo Māori kura pō - she is a music teacher and has taught us how to use our taonga pūoro. She is also just so sweet.

Holly Sarah Burgess - inspired by her art, her outlook, her style, and her kindness.