The business of discovery: The Vintro Room
The excitement of the chase and discovering unique and collectable pieces is what drives Maddie Hatton who opened her shop, The Vintro Room, just two weeks before the country went into lockdown. “The timing wasn’t great,” says Maddie. “And I admit I had my doubts about whether we could make this work, but […]
Design darling: Helen Fraser of kiwi fashion retail success story Bettie Monroe
Fashion label Bettie Monroe is about so much more than dressing women; it’s about empowering them. Metropol talks to one half of this design duo – locally based Helen Fraser about creating beauty and drawing inspiration. How would you describe Bettie Monroe’s design philosophy? It’s about empowering women to feel confident and happy through their […]
Scrumptious selections: two best mates opened an awesome mobile cafe called “Banter” in Sydenham
Banter, a busy mobile Sydenham based café that’s got the recipe perfect, is run solely by two talented best mates. Jasmine Mears and Emma Croxson have been friends for five years and have always dreamed of merging their chef and organic horticulture backgrounds to open a business together. By 6am the cabinet is crammed full […]
Blooming beautiful: budding Ashburton florist Samantha Rose Flowers celebrates her first year with a hundred roses
Samantha Rose Flowers celebrated its first successful year as Ashburton’s budding new business. On 28 May, Samantha Rose Trott gave out 100 roses around town for the occasion. The now 30-year-old excelled in both her floristry course at Christchurch Academy and her decade’s experience here and in Australia. However, the creative entrepreneur’s destiny was to […]
A woman of many hats: Q&A with Angela Stone
Angela Stone was just 14 when she started her modelling career, working with top retailers and international brands across Sydney, Melbourne, Milan and London and, at just 21, opened the doors of Portfolio Model Agency here in Christchurch, before starting her own styling business, Angela Stone Consulting Ltd seven years later. Today stylist, fashion designer, […]
A rare city treasure: Villa 23 Cafe is the bright pink, Dutch, vegetarian cafe you didn’t know you needed but won’t want to live without (and it’s for sale!)
The secret is out about Villa 23 Café, New Zealand’s first and only Dutch vegetarian café with the ambient charm of a rare city treasure. Hedwig Dunbar-Keek and family have infused creativity into this gorgeous stand-alone villa. It’s now seeking a new owner, with new passions. “It’s a central location, with little competition, between Blenheim […]
An inspired event: Women Inspiring Women luncheon is the feel good event you won’t want to miss
It’s been said that to achieve greatness, one must keep great company, which is the very premise behind one of the city’s most inspiring upcoming events. On Wednesday 16 May from 12-3pm at the Addington Event Centre, the Women Inspiring Women luncheon brings together some of the country’s most inspiring women. From entrepreneurs and company […]
A sensory surprise: La Bella Nails & Lashes is a beauty haven
When stepping into La Bella Nails & Lashes in Papanui, the serene oasis is a sensory surprise. Embellished in oak wood and neutral hues, the salon has been operated by Bella Tran and her five professional therapists for eight months. Using superior natural products, the menu is affordable and divine – from perfectly applied nail […]
The untouchable Peri Drysdale: our Q&A with the seriously clever and savvy Untouched World founder
A less is more approach isn’t one traditionally taken by a successful fashion label, but then Untouched World founder Peri Drysdale isn’t one to play by the rules. Doing things differently is, after all, what has cemented her place in the upper echelons of entrepreneurial royalty. Metropol talks to Peri about her recent achievements and […]
A style maven: Q&A with the irrepressible Lynn Woods
Lynn Woods is a name and a business that Christchurch respects. Synonymous with timeless fashion and informed sartorial advice, Lynn and her eponymous business are an asset to the business landscape. Metropol talks to the style maven about what makes her tick. After having been in fashion for so long, what still inspires you? I […]