Meet the fresh face managing our Ponsonby store: Andrew Ockleston. We were lucky to have Andrew join the Working Style team mid 2023, and ever since then he has become a powerhouse in our Ponsonby store. Learn more about Andrew as we ask him about his artistic background, his personal style, and his favourite spots to visit in the Ponsonby community.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
"I trained as an artist originally and still teach art which I find very fulfilling. I took up tailoring just before lockdown and was lucky enough to get picked up by a bespoke tailor who trained me to make and fit suits by hand. Lockdown proved to be a really productive time for me!"
In your opinion, is there much of a correlation between art and fashion?
"Absolutely! Besides the similarities in choosing colours to pair together and shape and silhouette, bespoke tailoring feels like sculpting in cloth - using the iron to shrink and stretch things into shape, as well as stitching and manipulating layers of cloth to follow the body (or improve on it). The whole process of commissioning a suit feels rather like painting a portrait in some ways too - the final product changes as you get to know the individual."
What inspired you to take the leap into the fashion world?
"Frustration! I loved antique clothes and couldn't work out what it was that appealed so much more - people would say "oh the things were made by hand back then" but that wasn't quite adding up to me. I started taking things apart to see what was going on and trying to replicate what I saw. From then I couldn't stop!"
How are you enjoying running the Ponsonby store?
"I'm really liking it here - I used to come here by choice to shop, so I already knew I liked the area beforehand. The locals in Ponsonby are really friendly and the smaller scale of the shops is great. Shopping here feels much more intimate - you feel you can really get to know your customers."
Do you have any recommendations for other great spots to visit in the Ponsonby area?
"Pons has some great second hand shops - Flotsam and Jetsam or Riverside Reloved are my two favourites. For spots to eat, I love Orphans Kitchen or Inca - Orphan's has great twists on familiar NZ food and the best Bloody Mary around. Inca is a fusion of Japanese and Mexican cuisine, which sounds odd on paper, but it really works! The staff are very friendly too."
What item do you think every man should have in their wardrobe?
"As dull as it sounds - a navy or charcoal suit - or just a navy blazer is a first choice. Don't get carried away by exciting cloths and colours for your first purchase - I've learnt the hard way - spending a lot of time and money making myself things that look gorgeous, but barely get worn because they're 'a bit much'. Go for the boring option first. So long as it's comfortable and well-cut, you'll find yourself picking it out of your wardrobe without even having to think about it."
Visit Andrew at our Ponsonby store at 186a Ponsonby Road, Auckland.
