1. Āhua is back
From August 22–30, Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa returns to Karangahape Road for its third season, once again spotlighting Aotearoa’s boldest emerging designers in an unfiltered underground showcase. The Spring/Summer 2025 edition continues Āhua’s mission to celebrate, platform, and challenge the creative landscape of New Zealand fashion, offering a stage for the country’s most exciting new voices. Highlights of the week include Material Girl featuring Sleeping Profit and Baby Head, Rite with Fringes Garments and Anthurium, and the Second Bloom group show featuring Winnie Catherine. For the ultimate experience, don’t miss Lucidum, an epic finale bringing together 70 standout SS25 looks on August 30.
2. The suite life
For New Zealand Fashion Week 2025, emerging designer Adrion Atelier will be taking up residence at SO/ Auckland in a collaboration that transforms the hotel’s previously hidden presidential suite into an immersive fashion destination. The Adrion Atelier Suite — housed within the opulent 14th-floor Treasury Suite — opens its doors for the first time, offering the public an intimate glimpse of Adrian Williams’ bold designs ahead of his highly anticipated NZFW debut. As part of this residency, Williams will also unveil a sculptural couture gown inspired by the suite itself. The Adrion Atelier x SO/ Auckland Residency will be open to the public from 25 – 30 August 2025.
3. Bring to light
Surrounding yourself with beautiful things creates not just a lasting connection between you and your space, but also a magnetic pull to your soul. The Hour Collection Part II by Snelling Studio is a poetic tribute to time, memory, and nature. Drawing inspiration from designer Bec Snelling’s rural upbringing and the kauri forests of Northland, each piece, whether the Agathis Floor Lamp or the Briar Mirror, combines sculptural form with functional design. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, these handcrafted objects invite reflection and connection into any space.
4. Runway ready
Aleph Beauty marks a new chapter with the launch of its first-ever pop-up, opening August 18–31 in Ponsonby Central. More than a retail space, the tactile, design-led environment invites visitors to experience Aleph’s ‘skin-centric’ philosophy through personalised consultations, shade-matching, and education on its clean, multi-use products. Coinciding with the brand’s backstage presence at NZFW, the pop-up brings founder Emma Peters’ ethos of effortless, conscious beauty to life. The Aleph pop-up is open daily at 8 Brown Street, Auckland.
5. In Residence
LeDoré Studios presents LeDoré: In Residence, a bold new pop-up in the heart of Ponsonby running July 21–October 21, 2025. Conceived by designer Julia Ford, the boutique residency brings together her sculptural jewellery, vibrant silks, and expertly tailored leather pieces in an intimate, design-led setting. Visitors can expect a striking new jewellery collection inspired by the icons of 1980s fashion and film, alongside exclusive in-store releases that reflect LeDoré’s signature balance of joy, drama, and timeless elegance. More than retail, the residency offers a curated glimpse into Ford’s evolving vision of everyday luxury. Visit LeDoré: In Residence at 100 Ponsonby Road.
