STARRY NIGHT

AUNTY DANA’S OP SHOP

1 3 0 R I D D I F O R D S T

Tucked away in Newtown, Aunty Dana’s Op Shop is one of the last stores standing against gentrification of all things vintage in Pōneke. With affordable pricing and a great selection of garments, you ’ll be sure to find a bargain. Run by Gender

Minorities Aotearoa, the store is named after their “ patron saint, Dana de Milo” , one of the first trans women in New Zealand to receive gender-affirming hormone treatments. She famously told the store, when donating many of her amazing outfits, to “ get those young queens wearing my dresses” .

Kaukau

3 0 G H U Z N E E S T Kaukau is a concept store that ties together design and contemporary art to create items for the whare. Founders Nadya France-White and Prak Sritharan see the store as a

“ visual narrative” , which offers a home to an evolving group of local makers and artists. That narrative ebbs and flows,

“imbued by moments of interest and a kaupapa that has always informed us. ” Whether it’s ojami floor cushions or handblown vases, there’s a little something for everyone in this space.

MOORE WILSON’S

9 3 T O R Y S T

A Wellington institution, Moore Wilson’s is the Disneyland of supermarkets. Marvel at wheels of cheese as big as your head, or treat yourself to their glossy array of pastries selected from bakeries all over the city. From hot sauces, craft beer, local roastery beans and more, you ’ll be giddy with options (the freshly squeezed orange juice machine adds to the sugar high). Make sure not to miss their upstairs kitchen and homewares section, carefully curated with everything from crockery to cookbooks. ALSO VISIT

Grab the best mortadella sandwich of your life at deli and bar Romeo’s Deli & Bar, then whip into Iko Iko and Tea Pea Home for all your colourful homeware needs. Stay at Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington, a great heritage building in the beating heart of Cuba Street. Finish with a mandatory visit to Te Papa to get a good dose of art and history.

W O M E N W E L O V E Starry night

After searching endlessly for the perfect nursery cushion, Jen Calorme decided to make her own, kick-starting a business in the process

Text Caroline Moratti Photography Alice Veysey

Lune & Co founder Jen Calorme says she got the idea for her business from scrolling social media to find cute cushions for her kids’ rooms. “Although I couldn’t see it myself in the past, I’ve always been creative. ”

If you ’ ve been on Instagram lately, you ’ ve probably seen one of Jen Calorme’s creations peeking through a cradle or nestled in a rocking chair. She’s the founder of online home decor store Lune & Co, which specialises in designing and making cushions and other beautiful wares for the nursery and bedroom.

From dreamy sky garlands, boucle dummy holders and decorative cloud cushions, there’s a whimsical essence behind Jen’s work that feels almost ethereal, like a nursery tale come to life.

Her feeding pillows Milky Moon and Mama

Moon, which come in two different sizes, are examples of the products that combine practicality and aesthetic for young mothers. Her products are soft, always, and come in a range of neutral colours to add warmth and texture to any nursery.

Originally from France, Jen moved to

New Zealand 10 years ago, settling in rural

Tauranga with her partner. She’s a mother to three beautiful children, Jackson, Brody and Zola, and creates content for brands alongside her full-time job running Lune &

Co.

“I really enjoy my coffees and I love catching up with friends in cute cafes. This would be my hobby for now, as this is the only time I can spare for myself, ” says Jen.

A year on from its inception, Lune & Co is looking to scale up as it continues to grow and succeed, both domestically and overseas. Jen says, “The vision has always been to bring some extra love, joy and cuteness into a baby ’s nursery or a toddler/kid’s room. Knowing my products are so loved by parents and their children is truly the best rewarding feeling. ” How did Lune & Co get started? Lune & Co started just over a year ago when I was randomly scrolling social media looking for cute cushions to add to my kids’ rooms but I couldn’t find any and saw this big opportunity. We decided to sell them on social media and launched out of the blue, giving our followers (mainly friends) 24 hours’ notice. Little did I know what would happen next and that I would have to turn all it into a real business within 48 hours.

What does the process of handmaking your beautiful boucle cushions look like?

Being handmade, the process is quite involved. First, we hand pick all our fabrics, we then lay it all out and stencil each of our patterns, then begin cutting. Next step is to sew them together – most patterns have two halves, some have more. We stuff them and with a final hand-stitch, close them up, then they are ready to send out. There are a few more steps in between, such as adding extra details to certain cushions, some of them require more detailed sewing/stitching on some of the custom orders we provide.

What is the ethos of your brand? We are always trying our best to bring as much joy and love as possible into someone’s home. Our unique pieces make people smile upon delivery, they are excited to add them to their home and excited to give them to their kids. That’s what keeps us going and wanting to always create more. And, if I can inspire more people, more women, more mums

“Everything is unique about our products. The fact they are all handmade and no two are the same. ”

J E N C A LO R M E

H A N D M A D E W I T H LOV E

Lune & Co now stocks more than 10 different shapes in various sizes, offered in more than 20 colours. Each piece is handmade and “made with a whole lot of love, passion and hard work” .