The old adage goes that you should never go into business with your friends, but down in one of Aotearoa’s favourite beachside towns, Mount Maunganui, fashion designers Rose Ackland and Jess Thomson are busy proving the opposite is true.
After studying together at fashion school in Auckland, Ackland—who also happens to be the creative brains behind homegrown label Beach Knickers and one of the founders of the Mount’s hip homeware, fashion, and furniture store, Dandie—and Thomson briefly went their separate ways before meeting up once again in the Bay of Plenty. Before long, the pair put their creative heads together and late last year Florence Eugénie was born.
Read on to hear what Ackland and Thomson have to say about moving to the Bay of Plenty, starting Florence Eugénie, and where to eat and shop in Mount Maunganui.
At the moment we are finalising our Florence Eugénie summer 2021 collection. It’s all new bikinis and resortwear. It has been a super fun process and we’re very excited to share it and wear it this summer.
Florence Eugénie came to be during our first few months at Dandie Store. We were still getting a sense of what we wanted to sell in the shop. Since we went to university together and had worked on various projects with each other, it was a natural decision to start our own brand that could be stocked in the store.
We originally met at fashion school in Auckland. I (Jess) moved to London for a few years and on my return decided to move to the Bay of Plenty, where Rose is originally from. We love the slow-paced lifestyle, the wholesome energy, and being close to all the beautiful beaches.
Auckland is also a special place for us in different ways. We would absolutely consider moving back to Auckland at some point! The beauty of the Mount and Tauranga is that it’s only a three-hour drive to Auckland, therefore we are constantly visiting for business or to see friends anyway.
Our advice for anyone looking to leave behind city life for the beach would be that there will always be an adjustment period. But start by embracing the beautiful weather, the outdoors, and the fresh air.
This summer you’ll find us around the Mount. We’ll be sticking around getting everything planned for a fabulous summer, our busiest, most fun season. The one place in the Bay of Plenty everyone should visit is Homunga Bay. It’s just outside of Waihi beach. It’s a gorgeous spot for a day trip, swimming, and a picnic on the shore.
The BOP’s best kept secrets are… The Papamoa Book Exchange, and Falafel Metro in Tauranga.
Where to shop
Jess and Rose round up some of their favourite spots to indulge in a little retail therapy when down at Mount Maunganui.
Dandie Store (375 Maunganui Road) for your homeware treats, fabulous gifts, and New Zealand-made fashion.
Be Organics (6 Tawa Street) for the best selection of organic produce and deliciousness.
Nine Lives (3/277 Maunganui Road) for vintage, plus the op shops!
Sisters & Co (208 Maunganui Road) for all of your international designer brands.
Where to eat
The best spot for brunch… Is the Tauranga Farmers Market on a Saturday morning at the local school. Our go-to order is a ‘Delice’ crepe from Le Petit Crepe. It has vanilla custard, poached apples, and blueberries.
The best coffee in town… Can be found at Little Guy Bagel and Brew—the bagel shop next to Dandie Store.
The restaurant we frequent is… Our local haunt, Alpino. With classic Italian food and drinks, we go every week in the summer, sit outside and sip limoncello margaritas.
Florence Eugénie is available online and is exclusively stocked by Dandie Store in Mount Maunganui.
