Overview
For four days this March (21-24) the city centre will be taken over by designer sales, in-store events and haute couture as part of the appropriately-titled 4 Days of Fashion in the City. Forget exclusive events and door list-only parties — this year's program features 30 completely free events from 25 participating central city boutiques, brands and retailers.
An annual highlight is the Designer Garage Sale Market. Mark your diaries and extend your overdraft for two days of bargains, one-offs, samples and end-of-line items from local labels. The market down Freyberg Place on March 23-24 will feature brands including Strangely Normal, Hudson, Checks and more.
New Zealand label Ingrid Starnes will present its AW18 collection, Harmonies No. 18, via a 20-minute runway show down the cobbled O'Connell Street on March 23. The models will begin and end their walk at the Ingrid Starnes Vulcan Lane store.
In line with a performance at Auckland Arts Festival, Basque theatre troupe Deabru Beltsak will take to the pavement for a free performance combining percussion and pyro. The performers will follow a route around the High Street district with the Catalan festival tradition of correfoc, or 'fire-run'. The event will start at 8pm in Freyberg Square.
On Saturday 24 March Fort Street will be cordoned off to host a free daytime concert. Taking the stage at 1pm will be Auckland four-piece Racing with their groove-led brand of psych-rock. At 1.45pm, Los Angeles-based Chelsea Jade will crank it up a notch with her incredibly danceable yet intelligent pop.
Elsewhere, Wellington artist fortyonehundred will create custom mandala masterpieces on freshly purchased kicks from Pat Menzies, Ruby will be slinging cocktails at an in-store happy hour, Merchant Man will offer a complimentary shoe shine service, and Crane Brothers and Together Journal will present an exclusive wedding workshop.
4 Days of Fashion in the City will take place in the heart of the city from March 21-24. For more information, visit the festival website.