We met Eloise and Albert in 2018 when they were kind enough to host hej hej for our first ever Wellington popup at Neighbourhood Studio. We thought it was about time you got to know more about this cracker addict and her handsome hej hej wearing pooch.

Full Names

Eloise Evans & Albert Swinestein

Introduce each other in one sentence

Eloise is the keeper of the biscuits and treats, does something that involves a lot of mugs with nothing in them, lover of long walks on the beach, number one buddy. 

Albert: 90% angelic, 10% fur demon, handsome, intelligent, but only uses his smarts for personal gain, number one buddy. 

Eloise, you’re wearing the Knitty Gritty Knit in Indigo, don’t you just love it? Tell us why you love it. 

It’s the perfect combination of vintage and modern - I love the vintage detailing of the shell buttons and knitted collar combined with a modern cropped length to wear over dresses or tucked into pants and skirts. It’s also so soft and warm, this jumper is getting me through the Wellington winter.

Albert, you’re wearing the Heads up Hat in Seafoam. What made you pick this?

As a lover of the great outdoors one needs a good hat, especially when facing down a Wellington southerly as I frequently do. The Seafoam colourway is the perfect shade of blue with a hint of green for my complexion, it really sets off the amber tone in my eyes, and the blend of cotton with cashmere is a nice touch of luxury. 

Eloise tell us about Mug Mates, what you do and why you love it?

We are pretty lucky in New Zealand, amazing coffee, community, picturesque scenery and hugely talented people. Mug Mates brings that together with a curated subscription - 4 mugs by 4 ceramic artists sent out monthly for 4 months. I curate each subscription round and work with the artists to design a collection of mugs that sit together and complement one another while still having their own personality.

Alongside Mug Mates I run a project called Mystery Mates, every two months we offer a mystery object for sale, you won't know exactly what you are getting till it arrives in the post, but we will tell you who the maker is, what the medium is, and give you a hint. Each round is a limited edition run - first in, first happy. Mystery Mates gives me the opportunity to work with a range of artists and mediums - ceramics, glass, textiles, art prints and more - I am excited to see where the project goes. 

I love running Mug Mates as I get to work with a whole range of artists and designers from all over the country. It’s really rewarding to be part of a community of makers and introduce their work to people who might not have discovered them yet. I also love how much everyone enjoys the surprise element of both projects. The messages people send me once their mug or mystery item has arrived are very sweet. 

What’s your talent you don’t get paid for?

Baking crackers. I am a cracker addict and you can guarantee I am always carrying some incase of a snack emergency. 

The worst thing you’ve ever worn? And don’t even try to justify it.

Bright red zip off cargo pants with black top stitching from Hallensteins and a navy cotton knit jumper with a white and camel stripe across the chest, my fashion sense in the early 2000’s was heavily influenced by boy bands. 

Mug Mates Round VI Subscription goes on sale 7pm Sunday, August 8.

https://www.mugmates.co.nz/

Make sure you follow Mug Mates Instagram & Facebook. If you have any questions or want to reach out contact hellomugmates@gmail.com

Photos by Hannah Webster