Exhibition unearths secrets of Auckland’s fashion past

A collection of designer dresses is getting a fresh airing just a hop, skip and jump from where they originated.

The Walk the Walk exhibition is being held from March 22 to April 1 on the sixth floor of department store Smith & Caughey’s on Queen Street. The free event is being run by the New Zealand Fashion Museum, the brainchild of former fashion designer Doris de Pont.

Mrs de Pont said clothes in the exhibition from designers such as Reslau, Emma Knuckey and Hullabaloo were made just 1km away from the show’s venue, between 1930 and 1980.

The Fashion Museum will host walking tours of the city’s fashion hot-spots, and from April 10 a self-guided version of the tour will be available as a free mobile app, ‘Walk Auckland’.

“Guided tours will take participants through the streets and alleyways of Auckland city to discover a hidden history of fashion in the city. Guides will share stories that enrich the experience of being in the city,” said Auckland Council’s Environment and Community Committee chair, Councillor Penny Hulse.

One of the stops in the tour is the Reslau fashion house-turned café, on nearby Elliot St where designer Frank Crosby made and sold his garments, including the oldest piece in the exhibition, a late 1930s black gown.

The Reslau fashion house spanned three floors of this yellow building behind Smith & Caughey's, which now houses a café on the first floor. Photo: Emma Gordon

A Reslau Café worker said they were aware of the business’ fashion past, but did not pay homage to it because the café was attached to eatery hub Elliot Stables.

Just down the road from Reslau, on the corner of Darby St, designer Emma Knuckey made clothes in her salon with business partner Betty Clark from 1950 to 1959.

Mrs de Pont said her favourite garment on show was an Emma Knuckey day dress.

“The design work is just extraordinary. She’s as good as anyone in Europe.”

Another designer featured in the exhibition, Hullabaloo, was located on Victoria St West above where Countdown Metro exists today.

Mrs de Pont said the exhibition was important because the clothes reflected New Zealand’s identity, and we needed to recognise our own designers.

We always tend to look overseas and think about what’s happening in Paris, or London. We do have talent; we don’t need to look off shore.”

“This project is part of Auckland’s transformation to become more vibrant and innovative,” said Mrs Hulse.

Walk the Walk: A History of Fashion in the City exhibition is on from March 22 to March 31, 11am to 5pm, with free live fashion parades on Elliot St (Wellesley St end) on Saturday April 1 at 1pm and 2pm.