The latest mobile accessories

Forget gadgets and gizmos, when you're on the move and living out of a bag, there's never a better time to buy another one.
Bag that is.

Even if it only holds your sun-creme and ipod shuffle and is a pickpocker's dream. If it looks good and doesn't require an additional loan, buy it!


The same can be said for shoes. All that walking around and constantly being on the move. Soles wear down and flip-flops can flip out. But more of that in a minute.

My new bag was a birthday present*. It was designed and made by Jo Sweeney, one of six designers who belongs to a co-op and runs a shop called Jet in Raglan. They each take it in turns to man the shop (it's closed Mondays, so that works out one day a week) and devote the rest of their time to dreaming up new creations. That way, they each have time to work on new stuff, have an outlet to sell it and benefit by sharing all running costs at the shop.

When she's not in the shop, you'll find Jo designing and sewing in her studio - her garage at home. Apart from bags, she does a line in belts, cuffs and wallets - her "bread and butter".

Her style is a mix of colourful, floral prints with contrasting blocks of colour - often in denim, corduroy and vinyl. All materials are recycled or vintage and she dyes her own lace. The bags and purses are full of surprises - open a pocket or a zip and you might find a beautiful lining or garish lace edging. If you pay an extra $10 you can pick a sparkly brooch to pin to your new bag.

It's tough being a small business, though, especially when you're only 25, like Jo. She's just had her first two-year tax bill and it was big. Presumably it's all worth it, though. She looks round the shop at all her work sometimes, she says, and realises how busy she's been. She'd like to extend her range into hats and shoes. No animal products though, so leather's out. Vinyl's strong enough.

There's only a few of my bags in the world. Jo even decided to keep one for herself as she liked it so much. You can buy some of Jo's stuff in Auckland, too, but the the prices are way inflated - sometimes by as much as 50%. And you won't even get to meet her. If you want to buy designer labels it's far nicer buying directly from the designer. Even if they don't want to have their photo taken.

As for shoes, I'll be back for some of Jo's when she's finished making them. In the meantime I'm making do with my $5 cross-town flip-flops, towering gold wedges from Wellington and some battered old tango shoes from Buenos Aires (picture to follow) .

Fellow traveller Beth certainly knows a thing or two about shoes. She's just arrived in Auckland from Cardiff and among her wardrobe essentials I counted no less than 12 pairs. Oh, plus the ones she's wearing. Though I'm sure heels come in handy when you're a sports teacher...













In New Zealand you even have to wear shoes in internet cafes...


*it's still not too late to send gifts