A global field guide to design, (life)style and secret finds est. 2007
Wee Birdy in New Zealand: HAPA at Re:Start
A design shop in a shipping container sounds like the kind of deliberate, carefully-planned work of edgy creatives looking to make their mark. But HAPA is part of Re:Start, the temporary and innovative village of container shops that is home to the city's independent shops that were devastated in the February 2011 earthquake.
Happily, it's a home that works beautifully for HAPA, which showcases work by local and international designer-makers.
HAPA means 'half' in Hawaiian, and is used to describe people of 'mixed racial heritage'. For the store's owners, Maureen Taane and Yuri Bacas Hosaka, it also represents the combination of two worlds, as well as the coming together of the old and the new in Christchurch's re-building.
The range of design-led gifts include homewares, jewellery, textiles, toys and art, and highlights include a hand-stitched Kiwi soft toy made with vintage NZ army blankets, jewellery by Debra Fallowfield and HAPA's own delightful 'Kia Ora' bunting mugs.
There is also a dedicated section for local up-and-coming designers from the Design & Arts College of New Zealand.
HAPARe:StartCashel StreetCity Mall, ChristchurchNew ZealandTel. 03 372 9335Opening hours:Monday to Friday 10am-5.30pmSaturday to Sunday 10am-5pmWee Birdy travelled to Christchurch courtesy of the good folks at Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Head to www.newzealand.com for more information about visiting New Zealand.Click here to read my post about Re:Start in Christchurch, including my top six shops.
Click here to read about The General Store at Re:Start in Christchurch.
A design shop in a shipping container sounds like the kind of deliberate, carefully-planned work of edgy creatives looking to make their mark. But HAPA is part of Re:Start, the temporary and innovative village of container shops that is home to the city's independent shops that were devastated in the February 2011 earthquake.
Happily, it's a home that works beautifully for HAPA, which showcases work by local and international designer-makers.
HAPA means 'half' in Hawaiian, and is used to describe people of 'mixed racial heritage'. For the store's owners, Maureen Taane and Yuri Bacas Hosaka, it also represents the combination of two worlds, as well as the coming together of the old and the new in Christchurch's re-building.
The range of design-led gifts include homewares, jewellery, textiles, toys and art, and highlights include a hand-stitched Kiwi soft toy made with vintage NZ army blankets, jewellery by Debra Fallowfield and HAPA's own delightful 'Kia Ora' bunting mugs.
There is also a dedicated section for local up-and-coming designers from the Design & Arts College of New Zealand.
HAPA
Re:Start
Cashel Street
City Mall, Christchurch
New Zealand
Tel. 03 372 9335
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 10am-5.30pm
Saturday to Sunday 10am-5pm
Wee Birdy travelled to Christchurch courtesy of the good folks at Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Head to www.newzealand.com for more information about visiting New Zealand.
Click here to read my post about Re:Start in Christchurch, including my top six shops.
Click here to read about The General Store at Re:Start in Christchurch.
