our blog

Newmarket here we come!

robynmathieson — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:22:55 +0000

On Thursday 5th August we launched our new summer collection (I’d rather be….) in our brand new Newmarket store in Osborne St……Here’s a few shots of the before and after at the store…….

Before…..

Last minute clean up…….

Kate, Tracey, Joanna, Tea and Sofia

Phil and I

Watch out for the Manhole!!

Also we had a great write up on the Thread site, thanks guys and thanks to everyone who worked so hard to get this store open and create such a great look!! http://fb.me/uQ42xAxU

Want to re live the 80′s with us…..

robynmathieson — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:05:47 +0000

Trawling through my old photos and came across these vintage Robyn Mathieson shots taken in 1986. It’s all about the lilac pleather……..

Spandau Ballet?

who’s that?……

Other Pavilions at the Expo

robynmathieson — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:23:04 +0000

After various council seminars and networking opportunities I had another chance to check out some of the other Pavilions at the Expo. Quite incredible and 3 hours of walking got me round close to a quarter of the buildings. To get inside would take at least 3 hours of queuing for most Pavilions. I opted for a look see from the outside and really was more interested in the architecture than anything else, mainly because I knew I wouldn’t have time to get inside.

Loved the China Pavilion. Such an amazingly designed building.

This futuristic screen was constantly changing…..

I toast these on the fire…..

I almost expected to see a camel with Laurence on it’s back…..

This was North Korea’s pavilion and probably my fave but here’s just one more chosen purely because of the exterior tile job……I have many more images so do let me know if you want to see more. I also have a pic of the second tallest building in the world, wow…….

Home now, but will miss the amazing people I met on the trip and can’t wait to go back to China.

Shanghai – Expo

robynmathieson — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:49:19 +0000

Loved Shanghai! I suppose it has a more western feel than Beijing and our hotel, with a direct view of the Bund, was very post modern, lots of retro looking furniture and so rectilinear that I felt quite disoriented for the first day there. And it’s about the heated toilet seats, a certain sort of luxury……there were some difficulties though…..I wasn’t able to post to Facebook or Blog as these sites are banned in China.

Our first day was spent rushing around with the City Council Entourage and we finally made it to the Expo. The New Zealand Pavillion was able to create a glimmer of homesickness but soon got over that! The roof garden was the highlight……and loved seeing all the vegies they had growing, not an insect in sight here!

Also felt very keen to dive into the ‘hot pool’…..

The Great Wall!

robynmathieson — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:02:42 +0000

Big day today starting with the Great Wall! It’s steep steep steep so caught up on some exercise…www.chinahighlights.com/greatwall/…and incredibly touristy and here’s me (the tourist!) withdrawing cash from the Great Hole in the Wall…

Then on to another sumptuous banquet style meal before heading to the summer palace. Talk of the Empress, (nickname Lan), made me think of ‘Raise the Red Lantern’ and I wondered if that was based on her.

Last but not least was the Silk Market and here things got a bit crazy. Overwhelmed by the smell of plastic upon entering (think shoe warehouse) I finally found the silk section. Amazing prints and beading…back down to the basement to check out “fakesville” and boy was it hard to find anything made out of actual leather. Euwh…great if your vegan I suppose!

Off to Shanghai tomorrow and some busy days coming up with the Expo. By the way the haze is not all pollution, apparently dust from the Gobi desert fills the air at this time of the year.

Dress style in China

robynmathieson — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Loving people watching here in Beijing and although people here are very neatly turned out there is scant imagination for anything other than Western Dress……for all!! The monks and street workers do have a distinctive style which is good to see!

I’ve arrived in Beijing

robynmathieson — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:06:23 +0000

After a fantastic flight (compression stockings and natural sedatives) I’ve arrived safely in Beijing. What with the time difference and mild jet lag it already feels like I’ve been here for weeks…the first day was spent in at the Transport Museum (fantastic info on Old and New Beijing), at a Tea House for lunch, wandering through Tianamen Square and off to the New Zealand Embassy for a cocktail reception in the evening.

Today we have spent hours walking through the extensive Forbidden City www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City and off to the Pearl Market in the afternoon. Off to a Banquet tonight with the Mayor of Beijing but the best company turns out to be the amazing people who’ve also come on this Wellington City Delegation. Small tip, don’t forget to pack your absorbent underwear!! It’s hot here…

Winter Range Photo Shoot

robynmathieson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:56:41 +0000

We have so much fun shooting our new ranges that we thought you might like to share some of the fun with us. Here’s sneak peak of the stressful but fun times… A special thanks to Nick Servian, our wonderful photographer, who makes it all possible.

What’s in Store during the 2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival

robynmathieson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:16:00 +0000

Drama on Display as Revolt of the Mannequins comes to Robyn Mathieson Wellington

Something extraordinary will be happening in the windows of stores across Wellington during this year’s New Zealand International Arts Festival, 26 February – 31 March. Robyn Mathieson is delighted to be taking part – and we hope our customers will come and join us in experiencing this enchanting theatrical event!

Revolt of the Mannequins is street entertainment like you’ve never seen before, brought to New Zealand as part of the Festival by French company Royal de Luxe. Combining gorgeous imagery, engineering talent and storytelling prowess, they transform the idea of the mannequin into pure comic strip brilliance. This ingenious free event will infiltrate the city over ten days, and along with nine other stores, Our Wellington store windows will become a stage for the action! Forty mannequins will be fixed in place every day across each store and changed every night so the stories can evolve on the streets of Wellington during Festival 2010.

The personal adventures of the mannequins make addictive viewing – Wellingtonians and visitors to the city will be captivated daily with the activities of these miraculous beings. Stories include Eat Your Soup If You Want to Grow up Big and Strong (Borders) and The Lovers (Stax), and our very own story Evil Tale For Other People’s Children. So make sure you don’t miss the escapades of these wondrous creations when you visit the store!

Full details of all 2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival events can be found on the Festival website [nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz] along with details of the other stores taking part. Keep an eye out for the Revolt of the Mannequins map that will lead you from story to story, available at our store counter.

SALE SHOP opens Monday 2nd November

robynmathieson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:47:34 +0000

Don’t miss out on some pre-Christmas bargains at the Robyn Mathieson sale shop, 152 Lambton Quay (next to No 1 Shoes). Garments from as little as $20 include end of lines, samples, seconds and fabric.