Ailson Reid's Search & Destroy, Auckland

Call it meandering, or rambling, or, as said down under in New Zealand, a walkabout. Whatever you want to call it, it is my go to when traveling, my path to discovering distinctive places or people. In this particular situation, both. 

Backstory 

Alison grew up on a farm in remote Patoka. When she was 12 years old her mother dropped her and her twin sister at boarding school and they never saw her again. 5 years later they went to Auckland  in search of their father, an Elvis impersonator, a search that was fruitless. Not able to afford university books, Alison  joined the Auckland Theatre Company which she fondly remembers as  "a great theatrical family that took me under their wing." She went on tours and still short of funds shopped at charity stores for clothing and furniture. She didn't understand that clothes actually came in sizes, all of hers were hand-me-downs from cousins, whatever size it was, well, they made it work. She found it utterly fantastic that there were different colors as well as sizes, and clothing for women and men. Who knew? 

Working for the theater company gave her the opportunity to shop all around New Zealand. Having so little growing up, stocking up became a bit of a hoarding problem. Her partner suggested she open a shop. Actually, it was an ultimatum "it's me or the junk" so Alison opened her shop. Her curation is based in part on farm accoutrements, theater designs, workwear (a nod to her childhood on the farm) and anything that tells a story. It would be insufficient to call hers a vintage shop. It's more an emporium of rare finds, treasures and the unexpected.