28.11.22
Slow & Low – Checks Downtown
We went out and shot the latest from our Kiwi mates at Checks Downtown with the uber talented Jordy for a bit of pre-summer fun.
The land of the long white cloud has a lot to offer, with natural wonders; fantastic produce; and incredible indigenous culture. Over recent years we've also been seeing exciting young brands pop-up on the New Zealand scene. One such label which caught our attention was Checks Downtown. Less than a year since we first introduced Checks to the roster, this NZ-based label has garnered attention amongst those looking for something different.
Started initially as a multi-brand retailer, founder Jordan was designing interesting merchandise from the get-go. As the demand for Checks in-house product quickly grew, the team began to focus on producing seasonal ranges. Eventually Checks started to emerge as a fully-fledged brand – that's when we crossed paths.
Checks is focussed on making clothes in a more socially responsible manner. Early seasons were manufactured locally from deadstock fabrics, allowing for a less impactful production process. As the brand grows, Checks works with suppliers to make quality clothing which remains conscious of fashion's impact on the planet – a sentiment best articulated on this season's Good Clothes Made Slow tee. A great example of this ethos comes in the form of the Nepalese hand-woven crochet hats we just received.
Any good independent will do their best to support local talent and community. Checks do this through things like seasonal collaborations with NZ-based artist. Often times your favourite graphic was made by a nameless designer, Checks flips that on the head. This season we see a tee graphic by Olivia Edginton and a button-up shirt with artwork by established fine artist Judy Darragh.
We just received our biggest delivery from Checks yet, spanning across clothing and accessories. We're particularly stoked on how this range came together, mainly down to the creativity and commitment of the whole Checks team. We had fun shooting this range with the super talented Jordy (seriously, check out those moves!) and we even threw in a little bit of our new Uxe Mentale for good measure.
