New Zealand luxury leather accessories brand Deadly Ponies has opened a flagship South Island store in Queenstown marking a new era for the company.

Deadly Ponies co-founders Liam Bowden and Steve Boyd launched their first South Island store in the resort to expand the brand’s exposure to a diverse global visitor market.

“Queenstown is a premium destination for local and international tourists and has always felt like the next step for us,” says Liam. “We wanted to create a new centralised location in the south to amplify our existing international profile and give those seeking quality, sustainable New Zealand design the opportunity to take home Deadly Ponies’ products.”

The high-end accessible accessory and footwear range has developed a significant fashion following both internationally and nationally for its unparalleled style since launching in 2005.

Deadly Ponies in Queenstown has opened in the historic Mountaineer Hotel building in Rees Street and is a sister store to Deadly Ponies’ outlets in Auckland and Wellington.

“This new store celebrates the very best of New Zealand art and design and has been thoughtfully designed to exemplify Deadly Ponies’ signature interior handwriting and display our pieces to a global audience. We have chosen specific artworks from multiple renowned New Zealand artists including an original 1950s watercolour by my co-director Steve Boyd’s late grandfather Douglas Badcock who was a celebrated Queenstown painter.”

To mark their inaugural establishment in the south the brand is offering an exclusive product for Queenstown customers. 

“We wanted to present Deadly Ponies’ craftsmanship and creativity through a fun project, working on something entirely new for us as a brand,” says Liam. “We have designed exclusive shearling bags as a cosy tribute to Queenstown’s character. Complementing this is our latest creation, the Mountaineer Blanket, which is inspired by the iconic New Zealand Woolmark blankets from the 1970s. This modern interpretation is handcrafted from a blend of wool and cashmere.”

“The Mountaineer Hotel has been around since the early 1900s, and we’re excited to pay tribute to its history by creating a piece that feels nostalgic but also super luxurious and limited.”