Men’s Outfitters

George Farquhar Vance and Harold Nicholas Vivian were the duo behind Vance Vivian menswear, which opened its first shop on Manners Street in 1924.

Vance was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1896. The family moved to Cape Town, South Africa where Vance’s mother died in 1904. His father Robert remarried in 1907 and in 1908 they emigrated to Blenheim, New Zealand. Vance enlisted during WWI at the age of 19 and was promoted to second lieutenant in 1918. His father Robert died later that year while acting as field secretary to the YMCA at the Awapuni Camp, by the explosion of an automatic pistol.

After the war, Vance worked for Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame Limited in Palmerston North. It was here that he met co-worker and future business partner, Harold Vivian. Vance married Agnes Hyslop Morrison in 1921 and they had two children.

Vivian was born in Wellington in 1878. His father Joseph was from Cornwall, England and he worked for James Smith for many years. His mother Georgiemma was born in Wellington. By 1905, the family were living in Palmerston North and Vivian was working as a salesman. He later worked as advertising manager for one of the country’s biggest department stores. Vivian married Julia Maude Eyre in 1908 and they had five children.

Vance & Vivian moved to Wellington with their families where they opened Vance Vivian in October 1924. The store sat at the corner of Manners and Cuba Streets. By 1926 they had opened a second shop on Lambton Quay.

They were clearly popular in other ways too - plagued with thefts, obtaining by false pretences and break-ins.

In 1931 the business donated a silver cup for prize giving at the Wellington South Horticulture Society shows. Both men were active participants in their respective churches.

Vince worked at the business until failing health required him to step back, two years before his death. He died in 1943 and was buried in the Public2 section at Karori Cemetery. Vance died in 1972 and is buried in the Services area of the same cemetery.

Vance Vivian continues trading to this day.