When Fiona Black and Javier Rodriguez lived in Spain, they had successful careers in the IT industry. When they moved to New Zealand, it was time for a change, so they opened a pop-up shop selling quality Portuguese textiles. Now, 18 months later, that pop-up store has morphed into Capricho, a stylish new outlet in Takapuna’s main street that sells much more than bed linen and tea towels.
Fiona and Javier both knew and loved high quality Portuguese textiles; Javier, whose family hails from Spain, was familiar from his childhood with shopping trips across the border to purchase the higher quality and cheaper goods available in northern Portugal, renowned for its textiles.
In the pop-up shop, “we learned very quickly what people liked and didn’t like,” says Fiona. “It was fascinating how people make decisions,” she says. “People also look to you to be the expert, their colour consultant. We love talking to them and helping them achieve what they want.”
The big learning for Fiona, having lived in Spain for so long, was how different New Zealanders are in their tastes in textiles . She and Javier returned from a recent buying foray to Portugal with goods tailored more to New Zealand tastes, staying with “really good quality brands, and international textile brands that aren’t sold here. They are so beautiful.”
The new store, they decided, would also embrace products that complemented the Portuguese textiles they so love. In addition to the international textile brands, Fiona and Javier also stock a range of European and New Zealand sourced homewares and furniture. “We’re always looking for new brands that are clever and beautiful,” says Fiona. “We plan that there is always something new for people to look at when they come in.”
“All of it,” she emphasises, “is well-made and designed to last. And we’re big fans of clever design; things that are functional as well as beautiful.”
They also love products that have a story, like the locally-made Girl brand skincare products that support communities in Myanmar and Bali as part of the production process.
Fiona and Javier are passionate about the new store and the products they sell. The Spanish capricho may translate into caprice in English, but the nuances of the word are far richer than that. “In Spanish,” says Javier, “it has the connotation of something you really like and that makes you feel good.”
“That’s the feeling we want to generate,” says Fiona. “We’re super excited about being in Takapuna, and we want to make people feel good – about the quality, the style, and the things they buy here.”
Capricho, 106 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna 021 102 7309 hello@capricho.co.nz www.capricho.co.nz
Open Tuesday – Sunday.
