New Zealand fashion designer Nicola Screen has selected Wānaka as the ideal place to open her first South Island high-end fashion boutique following on from the success of her flagship store in Greytown.

Nicola launched her own personal label in 1990 in Wellington followed by the well-known label OYL. She has developed a signature style capturing the synthesis between effortless elegance and the beauty of industrial minimalism. 

Her foray into Wānaka is something she has considered for some time.

“I have visited family in Wānaka over the years and have always thought it would be a beautiful place to open another boutique. When an opportunity in The Precinct came up it was serendipitous. I love the concept of the complex, its modern simplicity and international feel. We are very excited to be here.”

Nicola’s two stores and online platform feature timeless, feminine tops and shirts as well as confidence-inducing dresses, all designed and made ethically and sustainably in New Zealand.

Luxe fabrics such as soft Japanese cotton and French silks are a cornerstone of the Nicola Screen label and the garments are created for longevity.

“We use the finest fabrics from all over the world in our collections,” she says. “I would describe it as ‘slow fashion made to last’. I like to put an emphasis on unique textures that feel luxurious but are effortless and practical to wear every day.”

Nicola has discovered a distinct correlation between charming towns and refined fashion.

Her original Greytown boutique has a loyal local following but it is also a destination store for many women in Wellington and the lower North Island. She hopes her only South Island store will enjoy the same popularity, with people travelling from around the region to Wānaka to browse her collections as well as her exclusive range of perfumes and Italian leather bags.

“Wānaka and Greytown are similar in their boutique retail offerings and it’s great to finally have a South Island presence,” says Nicola. “We have many existing clients in the region, both online and previous visitors to the Greytown boutique, and we want to provide the full in-store Nicola Screen experience for them in Wānaka.”