Category: | Post by: Andrea Wong
I'm sure that like me, you have noticed that there are more Kiwiana products available these days. These are products that we can buy for ourselves to show how proud we are to be Kiwis. Or perhaps to send to Kiwi mates who have flown the coup to distant shores, to remind them of home.
A few years ago, I remember searching far and wide for a t-shirt with a New Zealand theme to it, for a friend who lives overseas. I don't remember if I ended up finding anything in the end, but I know that these days, you only have to nip down to your local mall to find something great. There are even online stores dedicated to Kiwiana tshirts (eg Mr Vintage).
Being a foodie, I am really glad to see that our love of all things Kiwiana has extended to homeware and kitchenware too. We're not just talking about the retro Kiwiana things that have become popular collectors' items, but a contemporary Kiwiana style, I guess you would call it. I'm sure that we all have an old tea towel in the depths of our linen cupboard, decorated with a picture of Napier or Taihape on it, bought as a momento of a holiday from years ago. I'm not talking about this style of Kiwiana, but the new style which has a distinct designer feel and more often than not, has a cute or cheeky side.
The malls have a range of the new-style Kiwiana goods, but they often all seem to stock the same brands. For something different, you would need to search a little harder and go to those little independent stores dotted around. There are places online that you can try too, like the New Zealand designer store, endemicworld.com. Places like these are more likely to support local designers and I am impressed by endemicworld's strive to support the locals, choosing "a selective mix of fresh and creative design products from kiwis around the world."
So this Christmas, go out and find something different, something distinctly Kiwi and something that other foodies in your family can enjoy.
The kind folks at endemicworld.com have given So D'lish a great prize pack to give to one lucky reader. It consists of five tea towels and a set of coasters. Give some of the tea towels away or keep them all for yourself, the choice is yours!
Competition
This competition has now closed.
Entrants to the competition had to answer the following question:
What Kiwiana design would you like to see on a stylish tea towel?
Competition closes Tuesday 24 November at 5.00pm
By entering the competition, you agree to be added to the So D'lish database and agree to the So D'lish competition terms and conditions.