Our Marketplace

The Agora

Theophora™ NZ

Welcome to the Agora |
the Marketplace of Theophora

Welcome to the Agora, the marketplace of Theophora. This is where our makers' ranges come together in one place: browse online any time, or find our stalls at markets around Christchurch and Selwyn. One doorway to our wares — from vintage costume jewellery to heritage crafts and keepsakes.

What was the Agora?

In the ancient Greek city, the agora (ἀγορά) was the beating heart of public life — an open square at the centre of the city where citizens gathered every day. The word means an "open place of assembly," and it was both a physical place and the gathering of people itself.

It was far more than a market. The agora was a meeting ground for the religious, political, judicial, social, and commercial life of the city — merchants kept stalls among the colonnades, artisans built workshops nearby, and it was adorned with statues, altars, fountains, and trees. In Athens, it even housed the Temple of Hephaestus, god of metalworking and craftsmen. From its twin life as a place of both trade and speech came two Greek verbs: agorázō, "I shop," and agoreúō, "I speak in public."

That is the spirit we've named ourselves for: a gathering place where makers and community meet, and where goods are exchanged with care.

Find us at the markets

Throughout the year we take our stalls to markets around Christchurch and Selwyn. Each market features one primary brand from the Theophora family — so you might find Kosmae's vintage and antique jewellery at one, and botanicals, keepsakes, or another of our ranges at the next, depending on the season.

Whichever brand is on the table, we're always happy to talk about any of the others — including Clotho cross-stitch finishing intakes or Hestia recipe digitisation.

See where we'll be next!

Explore Our Active Offerings

These ranges are active now and ready to elevate your everyday:

Kosmae | Vintage Costume Jewellery

Curated vintage costume jewellery — brooches, bracelets, necklaces and more — ready to live their second life with you. You'll find Kosmae at the markets while our online shop is in the making.

[link to Market Calendar

Kosmae | Find our vintage costume jewellery collection

Hestia | Curated Collections

Some recipes don't just feed a family. They hold it together.

There's a potato bake that only ever appears at Christmas. A handwritten slice recipe folded into a cookbook. A soup no one can quite make the same way again.

We took handwritten notes and family recipes, and transformed them into clear, readable recipe pages published online.

Each recipe is carefully digitalised, formatted, and standardised so it can be cooked again - not just remembered.

Hestia | Curated Collections

Hestia | Recipe Keepsakes

While our curated collections preserve your recipes in a 'Living Library', our keepsakes bring that legacy into the physical world - transforming memories into tangible anchors for your kitchen. These pieces are more than just decor; they are functional treasures and small keys to your sensory history.

Every keepsake is created to honour your family's domestic rhythm and ensure your culinary light remains lit for generations to follow.

Hestia | Recipe Keepsakes

Clotho | Cross-stitch Completion Service

Do you have a drawer full of unfinished projects?. Let Clotho breathe life into your forgotten textiles, honouring your family's legacy by expertly completing them for you.

Clotho | See our cross-stitch completion service

Beyond the marketplace

The Agora is where we gather our wares — but it's not the whole of the Theophora family. Here's more of what we do.

Hekate by Theophora

Researched, primary-sourced insights into the deities, festivals, and practices of the ancient Hellenic world — shared for anyone curious about the history behind the names. Follow Hekate on Facebook for regular facts and finds.

Psyche | The Butterfly Habitat project

Our living permaculture garden, where the home extends into the soil — habitat planting, circular growing, and the slow work of shaping a space with intention. Follow the project as it grows.

Hephaestus | Coming soon

Named for the god of the forge and craftsmen, Hephaestus is our maker's workshop — and it's almost ready. We're finalising the details now. Watch this space.

Why choose The Agora?

A marketplace where every offering is made with purpose and care, supporting mindful choices and meaningful connection.
Each range is prepared with craftsmanship and authenticity, so every visit or purchase reflects thoughtfulness and respect for heritage.
The Agora is more than a shop — it's a space for community, discovery, and celebration, bringing together makers, buyers, and traditions in one living marketplace.

Our philosophy: a partner for every season of life. In an era of the disposable, we offer the enduring. The Agora is designed as a "one company" living ecosystem that grows with you through every phase of your journey. You shouldn't have to seek out new values every time your life changes. We don't simply produce goods; we prepare them with integrity, so that what enters your home carries continuity, beauty, and purpose.