New Zealand Fashion in Pictures: Our Image Collection

For New Zealand Fashion Week we’re sharing some of our favourite images of New Zealand fashion.

Over the years, Christchurch City Libraries has built up a collection of local images. Many of these are donated from private collections and capture the places and people of Christchurch, and Canterbury’s history. Some of these we’ve grouped into themed image collections, including one on Costume and Fashion.

Our image collection is mostly made up of early 20th century images but is less comprehensive in terms of more recent history. If you’ve got photos that you think we’d be interested in then please contact us.

In the meantime, here are some oldies but goodies in the fashion stakes –

Suits you

Members of the Christchurch Drainage Board and visitors present at the opening of the septic tank, Bromley sewage farm [4 Sept. 1905] CCL PhotoCD 2, IMG0084

A group of Maori women dress reformers [1906] CCL PhotoCD 11, IMG0096

Mr E. H. Hughes, Mr R. E. Alexander (Director of the College), and Mr Walter Macfarlane [1909] Selwyn-P7030226

The diploma winners of 1913. Selwyn-P3051336

Fashion retail

Ballantyne’s department store, Cashel Street, Christchurch : the main entrance is pictured [1901] CCL PhotoCD 3, IMG0081

The mantle show room, Ballantynes, Cashel Street, Christchurch [1901] CCL PhotoCD 2, IMG0069

An advertisement for corsets sold by J. Ballantyne & Co., Christchurch and Timaru [1902] CCL PhotoCD 8, IMG0081

Scenes from the grand mannequin parade of autumn fashions, Farmers showrooms, Christchurch [1926?] CCL PhotoCD 14 IMG0079

Vance-Vivian (ChCh) Ltd. [ca. 1967] CCL PhotoCD 11, IMG0038

Fashionable families

Mr Justice Gresson and family [1865] CCL PhotoCD 6, IMG0021

Some of the Maori population [1900] CCL Photo Collection 22, IMG00681

Mr Humm’s family gathering at Waddington [1903] Selwyn-P7030188

The Golden wedding of Mr and Mrs W. Fussell, at Tai Tapu, Canterbury: a family group [1909] Selwyn-P1081149

Florence Henrietta Mahomet (wife of Icecream Charlie) and children [ca. 1930] CCL PhotoCD 18, IMG0045

Want to see more? Try –

• Our Images Collection
• Our Fashion Flickr set
• Kete Christchurch fashion images
• Our page on New Zealand fashion resources