1. Coming clean
Elevate your everyday rituals with Innate Textiles — the newest line of luxury towelling available from Tessuti. Founded by friends Wanda Jelmini and Fiona Spence, who each hail from a textile background at Missoni Home and Spence & Lyda respectively, the brand’s range of towelling and soft furnishings are designed to add an uplifting touch to any home space. Drawing aesthetic inspiration from artist Luke Sciberras, whose work revolves around textures, colours, symbols and the history of natural Australia, each of Innate’s styles pays homage to the iconic Australian landscape. “The inspiration is never-ending in this extraordinary place that we live,” says Spence. Crafted from 100% cotton, the towels are produced by one of Portugal’s premium manufacturers of terry products, whilst the soft furnishings are created by Italy’s master craftspeople.
2. At summer’s end
Warding off our winter blues this week is the latest and final chapter of Maggie Marilyn’s ‘Where The Wild Things Grow’ collection. Themed around the concept of ‘apricity’ — a term coined in the 17th century to describe, “The warmth of the sun on a chilly day”, designer Maggie Hewitt wanted to evoke a sense of optimism with the range. “We returned to the same location where we shot Chapter One, only this time, instead of it being the final days of a hot Sydney summer, it was one of those freezing, bluebird days at the start of winter — when there’s no greater feeling than standing in a patch of sunlight,” said Hewitt. “It felt like a good reminder to us, and our community, to embrace change; something nature does well.” Drawing inspiration from a mood board of American nostalgia, wild country gardens, and family photographs, Hewitt has filled the collection with deconstructed knitwear reminiscent of her father’s old jumpers and retro-inspired sportswear, along with feminine silhouettes and hand-painted floral silks that reference Hewitt’s mother and the garden she loves to tend to at their family home.
3. New digs
Here’s one for you Wellingtonians! Local lingerie favourite Underlena has opened a new Ghuznee Street space after spending the past two years based on Courtney Place. To celebrate the opening, owner and founder Maxine Kelly hosted an launch party last Thursday, inviting the brand’s neighbours to experience the new showroom in person. “The new space represents an enormous step for us – out of the hidden away nature of our previous showroom and into the light of Ghuznee Street,” she says. “It means more connection, more accessibility and more fun.” Stocking a plethora of luxurious lingerie brands, including Kye Intimates, The Great Eros, Araks, Cuccia and Du Ciel, Underlena offers an elevated experience from traditional underwear shopping. Operating by-appointment from Tuesday to Thursday and as an open showroom on Friday and Saturday, visitors are able to enjoy absolute solitude and privacy while they browse, with Kelly on hand to assist with fittings.
4. Worth its weight
They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and frankly — we couldn’t agree more. Known for their timeless adornments designed with expert craftsmanship and care, Naveya & Sloane is celebrating their 15th birthday this year by welcoming four striking new ring styles into their iconic Sloane Collection. In keeping with the brand’s classic Sloane design, each of the four new styles — which includes a cushion, oval, floating oval, and three-stone oval cut — has an opulent basket setting that perches like a crown on the finger. Designed to stand the test of time and be passed down from one generation to the next, each style is made to order and can be customised to suit the preferences of your special sweetheart.
5. Seaside spread
Offering expansive ocean views and top-tier cuisine, the Hilton Auckland has just welcomed a range of delectable new dishes to their winter menu. Aptly named ‘Warmth & Waves’, the menu kicks off with homemade Focaccia served with whipped ricotta and honey, setting the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. Following that, guests can indulge in the spanner crab cakes accompanied by crayfish emulsion and a decadent wagyu beef tartare with egg yolk jam. Heartier dishes include the coal-fired octopus with nduja bolognese sauce and the lamb cutlet schnitzel — but the pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the chai and Biscoff tiramisu — a rich and indulgent sweet treat to round off the menu. With an extensive wine list on offer to complement each dish, this is a long lunch opportunity that you won’t want to pass up.
