Kiri Nathan

Kiri Nathan is co-founder of herself named fashion brand. Inspired by Aotearoa New Zealand & Te Ao Māori, the company is built on tradition, culture, unique designs, integrity and a clear company vision.The label produces bespoke fashion, Pounamu jewellery and contemporary handwoven Kākahu (garments).

Kiri founded the Kāhui Fashion Collective in 2017 by taking five Māori creatives to China to introduce and support them into trade within the largest fabric markets in the world. In 2019 she took 15 Māori to China with the added “into market” focus, facilitating high level meetings with market buyers and distributors. She formed this initiative to support the first community of Māori fashion designers that genuinely tautoko (support) each other’s growth and success. With Katiakitanga (guardianship) and Manaakitanga (Caring for others) at the fore, it lives as an example of how fellow creatives can thrive in collaborative spaces, whilst still maintaining their individual voices.

Kiri is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her contribution to Māori and the fashion industry. She has been honored with a Sir Peter Blake leadership award and is the winner of the 2019 MWDI Māori business woman of the year.

Kiri sits on the board of the ‘I have a dream’ charitable trust, supporting the education and wellbeing of over 1500 decile one children. She also sits on the advisory board for Super Diverse Woman and is a founding member of the Wāhine Toa initiative that identifies and mentors leadership in young Maori Women.