west coast

Lasting essentials: a West Coast leatherworker’s pursuit of quality form and function

Qi Huang of Coast Craft started teaching herself the art of making beautiful, durable wallets and cardholders in 2018, working at her kitchen table in Franz Josef. Her leather goods are built with care to be accessible, functional, and long-lasting essentials that age gracefully and uniquely to every owner. These days she does have a dedicated workspace, which she describes as “my spaceship in the universe.”

Harvesting wild roses – the natural evolution of Fox River Bath Company

Harvesting wild roses – the natural evolution of Fox River Bath Company

Life has been busy of late for Fiona McDonald of the Fox River Bath Company on the South Island’s West Coast. Teaching her child via correspondence school, attending the Co-Starters Business course at Westport, and preparing for markets, along with running not one but two businesses – it’s enough to make her realise it is time to take it back a notch and focus on doing less, but doing it even better.