Pork Chop Hill

Te Motu o Poutoa/ANZAC Park, affectionately known as “Pork Chop Hill”, is a lookout point, observatory, and car park perched on a bluff above the Manawatū River. Like many Palmerston North locals, creatives Catherine Russ and Simon Francis hung out there as teens. In 2014, they established an independent clothing label, PORK CHOP HILL.

Since then, they’ve built their name on a decade of iconic t-shirts and original designs, which can now be seen worn by locals all over the city. Some are proudly Palmy-centric, made especially for those who know all the landmarks and in-jokes. Others speak more broadly to Aotearoa, with designs that make equally great gifts for whānau overseas, as they do for someone who loves making people smile when they spot them walking down the street.

Catherine and Simon made sure the shop itself is friendly and full of character too, just like them. Based on George Street, it’s not polished into a generic retail fit-out, and that’s part of the appeal – you can see their workspace, stock and creative process unfolding all around you, giving customers a look into the magic behind a brand that’s remained steadfastly small-scale and self-made.

That grassroots spirit carries into their wider community too, including collabs with a bunch of local organisations, like their recent work with Palmy Zine Fest. These guys aren’t trying to be everything to everyone: instead, they’ve stayed true to their mission of contributing to the community they live in, creating quality garments threaded with a distinctly Kiwi flavour.