Kiri NATHAN
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About Kiri NATHAN
New Zealand–born fashion designer Kiri Nathan is the creative force behind her eponymous label that is championing Māori design and culture. Pushing Indigenous fashion into a contemporary and high-end framework, Kiri’s work is heralded the world over and has been worn by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Barack and Michelle Obama, Meghan Markle, and Beyoncé, to name a few. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Kiri produces handwoven kākahu (garments) and pounamu jewelry that celebrates her whakapapa — the genealogy and culture Kiri comes from. For the Aotearoa Country Special, we speak with Kiri about growing up in Glen Innes, founding the Kāhui Collective — a community to support Māori designers — and her favorite Travel Gems to explore while in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
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