Design, Fashion and Cultural Integrity

Ten years ago Kiri Nathan founded her eponymous clothing label and over the last decade has developed it into an internationally-acclaimed high-end fashion brand with a distinctly Māori essence and aesthetic. Bringing traditional and contemporary making practices together, the label includes handwoven kākahu, custom dresses and pounamu jewellery and sculpture. Alongside developing her brand, Kiri recently established the Kāhui Collective, a group that fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing to build a uniquely Māori fashion industry.

For this Ockham Lecture, Kiri will be in conversation with her long-time mentor and friend, Kim Fraser.  Kim was Kiri’s fashion tutor at Manukau Institute of Technology and they have been closely connected ever since. Kim’s focus on sustainability within fashion runs parallel to Kiri’s attention to ensuring design processes, commercialisation and support of Indigenous designers are delivered with cultural integrity. The conversation will explore Kiri’s design ethos and the principles behind her mahi. 

Attendance is free but booking is required.

Kiri Nathan dress, model Talea Tatupu. Photographer: David K Shields