We’ve learned plenty of things over the 20 years, one of which is that men come in a huge range of shapes and sizes – especially in a country with such a diverse ethnic make up. Enjoy a shopping experience where you can choose by your taste, not by your shape. We're on hand to help you find the right style and sort the most flattering fit.

By offering end-customisation, Mandatory offers real value for money. Our garments are produced in short runs to actual demand, ensuring you get an efficient shopping experience while we make the most of valuable cloth stocks and eliminate losses in shipping costs, time, and unwanted stock.

Mandatory clothing is so comfortable and durable you can wear it for years. We continually invest in fabrics from New Zealand specialists who care about what they import and supply. This ensures the standard of cloth is kept high, and while there are no bargains to be had, huge efficiency is gained from the performance of that cloth through the life of the garments.

The only thing we want to see on the cutting room floor is blood, sweat, tears and the occasional spillage of bubbly. When it comes to our materials, we buy only what we need, cutting just enough garments to retail our range in-store and make to order. This not only makes the most of our materials, skills and time, we’re seldom left with wasteful, unwanted stock at the end of the season.

Great teamwork has been a cornerstone of Mandatory’s business from day one. Our move to Ghuznee Street has enabled us to work closer than ever, with almost seamless (!) operation between the workroom and shop. Our six staff members are consummate multi-taskers and share plenty of overlap in their duties, ensuring a happy atmosphere of equality and collective pride in our work.

We provide employment for eight people in an industry that is increasingly under pressure from mass-market imports that are systemically over-produced and poorly made, often by people who don’t enjoy the same working conditions we demand in Aotearoa. Whenever you buy New Zealand-made fashion, you too are helping to support industry knowledge and skills. From Auckland's YKK zip factory, to fabric wholesalers and ‘ragtrade’ sales reps – all are part of the fabric of an industry we’re passionate about preserving and improving.