Every Tea Towel Tells a Story
On Sunday 9 November Expressions will host celebrity chef Richard Till with a unique Tea Towels and Tasting event. This
event, which features Till talking about his tea towels and cooking up samples of his favourite recipes, is in
conjunction with a unique never-been-seen-before exhibition of his famous tea towels called ‘Every Tea Towel Tells a
Story’. Every Tea Towel Tells a Story’ showcases over 100 tea towels from around New Zealand that Till has collected
over the years. Based on the book by the same name, this is the first time that the tea towels are on display to the
public, along with stories about the tea towels and where Till has collected them.
“I love collecting tea towels,” explains the Christchurch chef. “I collect them for pure pleasure”. It was while
filming his TV one show Kiwi Kitchen, armed with a tea towel over his shoulder, which Richard’s passion for tea towels developed. “During filming, I would
always use an old Kiwiana tea towel. Suddenly it seemed like a good idea to have a different one each week and make a
feature out of it. A tea towel of the week segment was born, and so was my passion for collecting them.” Today, Richard
has nearly 300 tea towels in his collection, most are vintage and reflect a part of New Zealand history.
“Tea towels once played a huge part in people’s lives,” he explains. “We didn’t have dishwashers, we had to do our own
dishes, so tea towels were sold to inform the public. I have one that shows lipstick and other cosmetics, explaining to
the women of New Zealand the prices for their beauty products. “Also, in those days, most Kiwis would take family
holidays around New Zealand and everywhere they would go they’d get souvenir trinkets that would include a tea towel.
This was the era of my childhood and that’s why I have this sentimental attachment towards them.”
Richard buys about four new tea towels a week and the most he’s paid for one is $106. Among his prized possessions is a
tea towel commemorating Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding in 1981 and he has many depicting small towns across New
Zealand.
In conjunction with the exhibition the Upper Hutt i-SITE is hosting a design an Upper Hutt tea towel competition. Upper
Hutt i-SITE Visitor Centre invites you to design a tea towel for Upper Hutt. The winning entry receives a return trip
for 2 adults, up to 3 children and a car on the Interislander with the winning design also being printed as Upper Hutt’s
own tea towel. Full details are available at Expressions/iSITE reception or www.visit.upperhuttcity.com . Entries close noon 19 November.
Design an Upper Hutt Tea Towel Competition
Closes noon 19 November
Tea Towels and Tastings
Sunday 9 November at 7pm
Tickets $35 which includes tastings
Bookings essential
Every Tea Towel Tells A Story Exhibition
8 November - 14 December
Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre
836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt
ENDS