“Show up as you are,” was the call out from Aunty’s House for its latest Chai Session, a community focused gathering to connect and uplift South Asian diaspora in Aotearoa. The event was also the first anniversary for the collective launched by Amita Kala last year, prioritising South Asian, BIPOC and queer communities.

Taking over Kingsland bar Citizen Park on Sunday afternoon, it featured sets by South Asian DJ's including GoldTooth, basmami, حلالاماما (halalamama), Nam Chucks, DIMPRI and Char, and a local craft bazaar featuring small businesses like Paper Pyaar, artist Jessie Kanji, family business Mother India Herbals, textile artwork by Sahana Rahman, jewellery by Zahra Curates, a flash tattoo sheet inspired by South Asian culture by Khash aka Spicy Ink, plus block printing workshop by Masala Bazaar and tarot readings by Nyame Dua.

“This is your perfect opportunity to infuse your outfit with vibrant colours, cultural prints, and a dash of creativity to celebrate our shared heritage,” the organiser’s wrote on Instagram before the event. “Whether you’re mixing traditional attire with a modern twist or showcasing your own signature look, there’s no wrong way to dress for this magical event.”

Those who came out heard the dress code, with plenty of colour, texture and genuine self-expression - Abigail Dell'Avo went along to capture some of the attendees, and their incredible ‘fits.