Farm to fashion: Sally MacDonald
Although raised in the Wairarapa, Sally MacDonald knew she was home the moment she flew over the patchwork paddocks of Canterbury. Nearly 46 years later, she tells Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen how she has made Amberley home, built a much-loved fashion business and remained true to the community spirit that defines her.
She might have grown up on a beef and sheep farm in the Wairarapa hill country but these days Sally MacDonald is a staunch Amberley girl through to the bone.
About 50 years ago, the well-known owner of women’s clothing store Sally Mac’s says she fell in love with Canterbury while studying English, French and Te Reo Māori for more than three years at the University of Canterbury.
“After university and OE, I was back on the farm in the Wairarapa just living my life. I’d met and married my (now)ex-husband Graeme, who was a pharmacist. But my grandmother was still living in Christchurch and my dad asked me if I wanted to fly down and see her as she’d been unwell. Anyway, as we flew across the hills and over the plains, I saw North Canterbury spread out in front of me and I had tears pouring down my face. My dad was like, ‘what’s the matter?’ and I said, ‘I love this place, this is my home’. I still experience that when I fly into Christchurch. It’s something about the patchwork quilt of paddocks that feels encompassing. That day I was like, ‘this is where I’m going to live’.”
As luck would have it, a pharmacy in Amberley was for sale so within six months, she and Graeme had bought the business and moved to North Canterbury.
“I remember saying, ‘they’ll carry me out of here sideways’. I still say that.”
Divine synchronicity
Today, Sally lives just a three-minute walk from her locally famous clothing store on the main road going through Amberley, with her partner Stephen and their three dogs, a golden labrador, border terrier and a scruffy terrier. A new rescue cat will be joining the family soon, but first there needs to be a period of appropriate mourning. Their beloved cat Flo was hit by a car a couple of months ago. “We live on a back section near the main road, I’m surprised she lasted 10 years,” Sally says.
In terms of children, Sally has six stepchildren. “I’m the only woman in New Zealand with two stepsons called Alex,” she laughs. “My partner John died and his youngest was Alex. And Stephen has an Alex, too. The two Alexes met for the first time at my Sally Mac’s 30th birthday party in September! I have four stepchildren with John and two with Stephen.”
After 45 years of living in Amberley, Sally is a big part of the local community. “I love this place, which is why if you go on my Facebook, it’s full of local news and events.”
Community, she says, is lifeblood. “I was fundraising for the squash club and ended up president. I did a stint on the council for one term in the 90s before I opened the shop in 1996, and I’m a Justice of the Peace. Because of where I grew up, I know that if you don’t support your community, you don’t have a community. When the only facilities or services in your community are the school, the pub, the village store, and the post office, if you don’t support those, before you know it, you’ll have to travel for miles to get anything. That’s part of the ethos that I grew up with, and it’s what makes me, me. I’m WYSIWYG. What you see is what you get.”
Dedicated follower of fashion
This year, Sally Mac’s celebrated its 30th birthday. Three decades of running a women’s clothing store in a rural township is no mean feat. Sally puts her success down to knowing her customers and “sticking to my knitting”.
“It all started because I was frustrated with shopping for clothes. I was 39 and I thought women over the age of 40 were pretty much ignored by the malls. We don’t want the latest fads that will be out of fashion next year, and we don’t want to spend $2000 on a dress. I have so many women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s who want to look contemporary, who want to enjoy fashion, and want to buy good quality but they can’t find it at a price that’s reasonable. That’s my niche.”
Having said that, price is not the be all and end all, Sally says. “What’s important is: Does it suit the person? Does it suit the occasion? Is it everyday wear? For example, we have a retirement village here in Amberley now and they have weekly ‘Friday After Five’ evenings. It’s not formal but the women want to dress up.
So that’s what I set out to do and 30 years later, I’m still doing it.
I haven’t changed focus and I think that’s why I’m still here.”
______________
Quick fire with Sally MacDonald
Oldest piece of clothing you still love?
A 15-year-old pair of classic black evening pants that still make me feel a million dollars.
Your most recent fashion purchase?
Two weeks ago I bought a pair of the Cabello patterned sneakers we stock. They look great and are so comfortable, and I can put my orthotics in them, ideal for being on my feet for hours in the shop.
Top fashion tip?
Don’t buy it unless you love it. ‘It’s quite nice’ is not a reason to buy.
Fave Amberley hang out?
I have three local places I love to go to. The Nor’ Wester Cafe for a trim flat white and cabinet food. The Brew Moon for beer, pizzas and burgers, and D.O.T.I Eatery and Bar for fantastic food and service.
Podcast or book?
I like the idea of podcasts but don’t actually listen very often. I’m a reader, anything and everything, fiction or non fiction, magazines, newspapers, social media nonsense… the book I’m currently reading is The Girl In His Shadow by Audrey Blake.
Music?
I’m a big music fan. We go to a lot of gigs, rock, classical, folk… my tastes are eclectic. In my car now, I’m listening to the debut album of The Morton Trio, my stepson and his wife are two of the founding members. It’s classical music – Johannes Brahms.Signature dish to impress guests? I usually ask Stephen to cook, he’s very good at cooking. If it has to be me, it’s Thai curry.
A habit you’d like to break?
Procrastination. I’m really good at that. Not sure how to stop though.
Last show you went to?
Jersey Boys at the Isaac Theatre Royal, it was absolutely amazing.
Biggest hope for 2027?
Plenty of good fun, good health, and good company.
