It’s been a year since Georgia Cherrie and Paris Mitchell launched their popular vintage e-commerce store The Mercantile, and now the stylish friends are focusing on their own basics line, Paris Georgia Basics.
Paris, who styles and directs all the fashion shoots for The Mercantile, says the range came to life because they needed basics to mix with the vintage items they had sourced for the store.
Each Paris Georgia Basics piece is made in New Zealand, with the duo acting as their own fit models. They select luxurious fabrics such as Japanese cotton, double crepe satin and natural fibres, with styles based on "what we like, what our friends are wearing, what our friends say are missing in their wardrobe".
The world is taking notice, with the store featuring on numerous international websites - this week their basics featured on Vogue.com, with the pair modelling "how to wear" pieces from their line. (Vogue is familiar ground for Paris, who previously worked there as an assistant to the Design Director.)
The main message they want to share is that basic doesn’t have to mean boring; showcasing clever styling ideas for customers to try themselves. As Paris explains, “You can have a simplified outfit and still be totally polished and chic”.
The Mercantile, which is based in Auckland, is stocked with vintage and second-hand designer pieces sourced locally and internationally, including brands such as Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Calvin Klein and Miu Miu, and is replenished every 4-6 weeks.
The online shop is also the exclusive stockist of Maryam Nassir Zadeh footwear, as well as selling Glen Prentice earrings, Marta Buda bags and pieces from LA-based swimwear brand Nu Swim.
