Meet six labels making the most of durable and desirable natural fibers to create stylish pieces that will have a forever home in your wardrobe.
Tolaga Bay Cashmere
In Tolaga Bay on the North Island’s east coast, cashmere goats roam coastal headland overlooking the brand’s own factory-atelier, where their gloriously soft and light fibres are handcrafted stitch by stitch.
The results are found in small-run, simple and sumptuous garments that could well become keepsakes, providing they are well cared for. Selectively and sustainably growing their herd and developing cashmere garments for over 35 years, the brand is the epitome of farm-to-fashion fabrication.
Elle & Riley
Elle Pugh and her mother Yolande Ellis started luxury cashmere brand Elle & Riley in 2016, bringing a timeless elegance to each piece, but also evolving each season with fashion-led colours and shapes.
The cosy yarn is ethically sourced from cashmere goats raised in the Himalayas and combed delicately from the goat by local artisans to ensure only premium fibres are collected.
The sweaters and cardigans are stunning, but the layering pieces and accessories, including wraps, gloves and sock absolutely should not be missed either.
Standard Issue
Since 1991 Standard Issue has been consistently turning out stylish knitwear that passes the test of time.
Each item is still designed and made in the brand’s Auckland workshop using traceable local and international yarns, sustainable methods on advanced, zero-waste knitting machines.
While they are made to last, the family-owned brand also offers a ‘Care for Life’ programme. Instead of going to waste, customers can bring in their worn Standard Issue garments to be repaired, reused or repurposed.
Perriam
Christina Grant grew up on Bendigo Station in Central Otago, the family’s merino farm that remains the home of Perriam.
While merino has a general perception for warm layering pieces, Grant’s elevated pieces take the idea to a luxury level, turning out a wardrobe full of options such as fine-gage tee-shirts and ribbed separates and blazers and coats in the season’s most desirable hues.
Honest Wolf
At the helm of Papanui Estate in the Manawatū region, a 3,300-hectare, third-generation sheep farm, couple Sam and Sophie Hurley made the decision to expand their focus beyond just yarn.
Hard-wearing wool is worked into a range of classic accessories and luggage. Look inside, and each handbag, tote, travel bag or satchel comes lined with fabric bearing a topographical map of the estate, historic names of each paddock revealing exactly where the wool involved started out.
Marle
Marle started out in 2015 with a small selection of simple and deliciously textural knits. Though Bay of Plenty-based designer Juliet Souter has since developed her label to a fully-fledged fashion brand, knitwear remains the hero of the range year-round.
There are garments in mixes of merino, silk, possum or cashmere as well as feel-good fuzzy mohair blend jumpers and cardigans in a revolving palette of muted shades.
“Good design is about creating pieces people want to wear over and over again” shares Souter. “Wearable pieces that are not attached to a season. It’s about combining simplicity with everyday luxury.”
