Tutukaka’s Destination Shop

01
Jun

They’re out of the way, but worth it. Stores that are destinations in themselves. Eclectic Culture Co and other "destination shops" dot the countryside. They're often better than the equivalent in Auckland or other cities. Their locations, however, are somewhat peculiar, requiring customers to go the extra mile - literally - to visit them.

It’s hard to pigeon-hole the Eclectic Culture Company.

It’s part-designer clothes emporium, part-retro, part-craft, and part-knick knack/gift shop, with a strong recycling bent.

The store, which is quite frankly - eclectic - was the brainchild of Wendy Nelson, founder of the Chlorofile label of clothing that women of a certain age will remember from Auckland’s Ponsonby.

Life moved on and Nelson headed north a few years back to be closer to family.

You can’t keep a good shop owner down, however, and the Eclectic Culture Company was born just over a year ago.

The huge 111sq m shop offers six designer clothes ranges, but one of its biggest sellers is cushions and ornaments made from recycled blankets.

Hundreds of grannies’ old blankets have found their way to the Tutukaka store’s workroom and are turned into imaginative gifts.

Word is spreading fast and business is building up.

Some customers simply drop by to look at the inspired front window display.

If you do, expect to see mannequins wearing designer dresses topped off with anything from a lamp shade to a tea cosy doubling as a hat.

Open: Wednesday to Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday/Sunday 9am-5pm.
Where: Shop 3, Oceans Hotel Resort, 11 Marina Rd
Phone: (09) 434 4211

TutukakaCoastNZ.com

Eclectic Culture Co is a treasure trove in Tutukaka.