The Beauty of the Basics…

It all started with two friends and a dream. The Kiwi women behind Affinity Basics came to New Zealand from Brazil with a vision to create the perfect t-shirt for all shapes, sizes, and colours using only the best quality materials. T-shirts are a staple of any girl’s wardrobe, but if you’re like me you want styles that will take you through seasons, months, and even years to come! That’s where Affinity comes in, a New Zealand brand with a focus on natural fibres and ethical production bringing you the perfect tee in style and comfort. Basics have never been so beautiful!

In today’s business showcase, I bring to you two New Zealand creators you need to know about from Affinity Basics created by Fabiana Menolli & Fernanda Neiva. This photoset was photographed at one of my favourite local spots to eat, drink and shop. One of the finest artistic locations in Matakana - Morris & James Pottery and Cafe. I share with you everything I love about my affinity basics tee, how to style it, and most importantly which one is right for you!

Wearing Tee in White from Affinity Luxury Basics, NZ.

Business Showcase | Affinity Basics

About Affinity Basics | Designed in New Zealand

The team at Affinity Basics are passionate about feeling stylish and comfortable. True sophistication is in simplicity for this label and rightly so. They believe in slow fashion, ethically made clothes and sustainable industry. Below they kindly shared a little about their local label, what inspired them and how it came to be!

”When we met here in NZ and became great friends, we found out that we had one passion in common: t-shirts. We also shared similar lifestyles and tastes such as quality over quantity and a love for the details. One day as we were talking about how our lives have changed since we moved from Brazil to NZ and how this big move makes us invent new dreams and goals, we had the idea to create our brand of premium t-shirts - they would be designed specially for the feminine body and made with the best materials we could find. We saw a lack of this product in NZ market and that's how we started. We dived in this world and started to find out more about the concept of having essential and basics pieces with high-quality finishings and perfect design and that's how we created the first brand of Luxury Basics in NZ.

Our styles are basic & classic, with a personal touch in timeless accessories and versatile and long-lasting pieces. To match our Affinity tees and keep a cool look, we love to wear leather, tailoring and unique accessories with less obvious designs. We believe what you wear can empower and move you towards your goals that's why we encourage all women to feel great in her own body and wear clothes that make her feel confident to reach her dreams! Our purpose is to turn basics into a more significant choice, with quality over quantity and unique details. We want every woman to feel great and confident with their own choices.” - Fabiana & Fernanda from Affinity Basics.

www.affinitybasics.co.nz

Shop online directly from the website here!

Above: Affinity Basics V-Neck Tee in ‘Off White’ available for $143, Heels from Kmart New Zealand.

The Affinity Basics Luxury Tee

The luxury tee from Affinity Basics is known as ‘The most comfortable t-shirt you will ever own’ and with good reason! Available for $143.00 these Affinity Basics tees are made from 100% premium micromodal, a natural and sustainable fibre made from renewably-grown European beechwood trees. Fun Fact: It’s 50% more breathable than cotton! Using innovative technology, the components used in the production are recycled and reused again. Also, its cellulose fibre is completely biodegradable. I am wearing the micromodal Affinity Basics V-neck Tee in ‘Off White’ and I chose this colour for it’s style and comfort in summer! From the moment I put this tee on, I was surprised by how soft, breathable and lightweight it was. It’s like a second skin! It has a long colour durability, and a unique brightness. The white of my tee is just the right shade, not too stark and not too yellow meaning that it is great for so many skin tones. If you aren’t a fan of white then you’re in luck because these tees also come in a range of other colours including black, blue and earthy tones. MicroModal is a trans-seasonal fibre, so you won’t get too hot or cold. Similar to how cotton behaves and doesn’t cling in warm summer temperatures, it also keeps you warm in winter. The manufacturing process of MicroModal is also ecological and has a positive footprint: it has no carbon emissions, uses 10 to 20 times less water and takes up less land when compared to the production of cotton. Most importantly, the quality of construction of this tee is impeccable. If there was one to last you, this tee from Affinity Basics is just that, and well worth the investment!

Above: Accesssories from Colette by Colette Hayman and Earrings from Lovisa.

How To Style The Affinity Basics Tee

I love comfort, and I love quality, ethically conscious pieces. But most of all I love versatility. This tee is just that! Because the fabric has a beautiful silky shine to it, it has a luxurious look as well as feel making it perfect for a variety of occasions. This tee can be styled for casual day wear, or heading out for semi casual or as part of your business attire.

To style the Affinity Basics tee, I suggest you tuck it in for a more dressy look as I did for this photoset! You can pair it with high waisted pants, or skirts with or without a belt for different looks, and throughout the cooler seasons layer it with accessories and your favourite cardigan or jacket. For a more casual approach this tee can be worn loose and untucked, with a simple pair of jeans for a relaxed look. Make sure you select the style that’s right for you, read on to find out which tee is best!

Morris & James Pottery & Cafe in Matakana, New Zealand.

How to Select the Perfect Tee

What I love about Affinity Basics in terms of the brand’s approach is they have considered women of all shapes, sizes and colours in the creation of their pieces. How do you know which one is best for you? To choose the perfect tee for you there are two factors to consider when styling: Neckline and Colour. V-necked tees like the one I am wearing are best for women with a larger bust, while crew neck tees are better for ladies with a petite bust. That’s the simple and easy way to remember which one is best for you. If you aren’t sure which category you fit into, experiment with trying on the different neckline styles in basic brands first, and see which you prefer. The second aspect to choosing the right tee is colour. Because this fabric is very lightweight it has a tendency to make brightly coloured garments underneath visible. For this white tee I am wearing a white t-shirt bra, to make the strap lines invisible. If you aren’t familiar with the best undergarments, I recommend going one of the darker coloured tees which are more opaque. Black is a great choice for business attire or semi-casual wear, especially if you are a winter skin complexion, otherwise Olive is a great choice for warm or olive complexions, and the shade ‘Blue Jeans’ is great for paler skin tones.

The Location | Morris & James Pottery and Cafe

Morris & James Pottery and cafe is one of my favourite places to go for coffee, something to eat and to spend time looking at the beautiful rustic showroom filled with incredible ceramic designs, sculptures, tiles and pots in every colour, size and style you can imagine! Showcasing handmade pieces made here at the pottery in Matakana, New Zealand this beautiful spot is a must-see when you head up north. Tucked away down a little road on the right, only two minutes past Matakana Central. What’s even more exciting, is you can even come along for an extensive factory tour through the pottery, with a behind the scenes look at how all these beautiful ceramics are made!

You can check out Morris & James on Instagram here, Facebook, and shop online at their website here.

www.morrisandjames.co.nz

If you haven’t already checked out ‘‘Affinity Basics’ on Instagram and Facebook, you can do so here! Thank you so much for kindly gifting me this beautiful tee, and make sure to grab yourself one from this exciting New Zealand label!

“We believe that the demand for essential pieces reinforces the movement of conscious consumption that priorities timeless, versatile and durable pieces. Basic for us is to feel comfortable in our own skin, to be ourselves, without the pressure of fashion trends. More quality, less quantity. More freedom, less rules. We are easy and we love to be well dressed, always wearing our Affinity t-shirts to inspire ourselves and our loyal customers.“ - XX Fabiana Menolli & Fernanda Neiva.