Fashion and cuisine combine

A creative trio is bringing both cuisine and fashion back to the city’s heart, with Christchurch’s only central city wine bar and the country’s only denim brand combining to create a must-see central city hotspot.

The funky yet friendly establishment, which is in the heart of Little High Lanes and opened at the end of July, is the brainchild of business partners Phillip Sunderland, Helen Pfahlert and Stuart Montgomery. All the wine, craft beer, food and fashion on offer at Not Without You is produced in New Zealand – much of it from Christchurch and Canterbury. Housed under the same roof as the wine bar is their fashion store DUAL, New Zealand’s only denim brand – manufactured only 800 metres away on Lichfield Street.

The team, who come from creative, design and fashion backgrounds have all previously worked together, have a passion for supporting all things New Zealand and are “here for the long-haul”.
“We love the unique nature of the story,” Phillip says. “We are staunchly patriotic to all things Aotearoa. It’s a true joy to support the artisans, winemakers, beer brewers, cheesemongers, bakers, knife makers, designers and manufacturers from New Zealand. We are not the experts; but we source from them.”

The coffee cups, plates and bowls are handcrafted by Tatyanna at the Busy Finch on St Asaph St; coffee beans are roasted by Unknown Chapter, just across the road; the feature lights are crafted by Ivy and Willow Baskets from Plimmerton; craft beers are from small suppliers all over New Zealand; the cheese is from the Canterbury Cheesemongers; cured meats, pâtés and smoked seafood from Sydenham’s Euro Gourmet Meats, Cashmere Cuisine and Eaton Drink Co and the wine from Central Otago to Kumeu.
The wine is even chilled in fridges manufactured 4km away in Christchurch. “We love this city,” Helen says.

“We have everything at our doorstep; mountains, oceans, great people. But the city has to be vibrant, creative, dynamic. It has been through a rough time, but is now reviving and we see some fantastic opportunities to support what is going on in our region and to draw people back to the city centre with a compelling story.”