We’re always amused when two parties from opposing corners of the world are infatuated with the other’s culture. This appears to be what has happened between us and our Kiwi mates at Goodlids. We’re wildly entranced by New Zealand’s bright blue water, stunning landscapes, and abundance of sunshine, and Goodlids appear to be just as fascinated by Wetherspoons and the Arndale shopping centre.
In a strange but beautiful twist of international admiration, Goodlids are making their way from the beaches of Aotearoa to the concrete pavestones of the UK for a two-stop pop-up tour over the next 10 days – first in the Big Smoke, then in our hometown of Manchester.
The London leg kicks off on Friday, August 8th and runs through to Sunday, August 17th at 159 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch. Expect plenty of exclusive pop-up merch, giveaways, and enough Allpress coffee to keep you wired long into the evening. It’s likely going to be the sort of event where you drop in for a look and end up staying for several hours, chatting to the crew about how ‘you’ve always thought hemp was the way forward‘ and whether they’ve got any vacancies on the go.
Then, on Friday, August 15th, they’re marking their Manchester debut with a one-day-only pop-up at Allpress’s Manchester café. Just one day, so mark your calendar, bin off that date at The Koffee Pot you agreed to months ago, and get practising your Kiwi slang. It’ll be all the same goodness as the London job, just compressed into a chaotic single day, which, to be honest, is how most good things happen up here anyway. Worth mentioning that we’ll also be there in some way, shape or form – loitering around the free grub, trying not to make eye contact with all the cool people.
What’s great about the blokes at Goodlids is that they’re not just turning up to shift a few hats and disappear into a cloud of Mancunian drizzle. They’re going about it with care and personality, spreading the word about sustainable hemp materials, thoughtful design, and doing it all with an apt sense of humour. Their gear is made for long walks, lazy afternoons, and doing absolutely nothing in style. It’s outdoors-y but not in a ‘conquer the mountain and plaster it on Instagram’ kind of way. More like ‘sit on a bench with a massive sandwich and feel at peace.’ Probably why we like them so much, to be fair.
So yeah, this isn’t like some other soulless brand activations. It’s a chance to meet the people behind one of the most interesting and likeable outdoor brands from the other side of the world – in person, with coffee, and limited-edition headwear. Whether you’re London-based, Manc through and through, or just enjoy chatting to people who say ‘frothing’ a lot, this is one worth showing up for.
Come down, try something on, and say g’day. They’ve come a long way – it’s only polite.
