To spread kindness to Kiwis in need, three celebrated wahine Māori artists have designed a range of limited-edition t-shirts to support New Zealand charity Kindness Collective during the festive season.
The ‘Wear Kindness’ campaign features artists Lissy Cole, Kiri Nathan, and Māori Mermaid and are available for purchase from 5 October to 20 November directly from The Print Room at RRP $50 and will be delivered in time for Christmas. Proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts will go towards The Christmas Joy Store, Aotearoa’s first social toy and treat store, run by the Kindness Collective, which is back for a second year in 2022.
The Christmas Joy Store gives parents and caregivers supported by Social Services, Women’s Refuge groups, New Zealand Police and Government agencies the opportunity to shop and choose gifts they know their children will love off the shelves for free.
“For families living in poverty or who are rebuilding their lives from illness or family violence, Christmas isn’t always a time of joy,” said Sarah Page, Founder and Chief Executive of the Kindness Collective. “Every child deserves a magical Christmas, and everyone deserves the dignity of choice, so we are pleased to bring the Christmas Joy Store back for another year.
“Last year’s Joy Store saw over 24,000 presents provided for kids in need, and this year we need to double our impact. We’re excited to have collaborated with these incredible artists and designers who believe in our mission to help us reach this goal.
The ‘Wear Kindness’ campaign allows kiwis to wear a heartfelt piece of art and donate to those in need. The tees feature stunning designs and will be perfect for Christmas gifts.
About the artists:
Lissy Cole
Over the past eight years, husband and wife duo, Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole, have used their creative energies to explore mātauranga Māori and their personal whakapapa through crocheted sculptural forms. Combining bright, neon colours and traditional toi whakairo shapes, their mahi offers a new way of understanding the importance of joy and aroha within te ao Māori.
“Our inspiration for the design of ‘Wear Kindness’ as with all our designs is to honour the gifts we’ve been given and to bring a deep aroha to our world through our creativity,” said Lissy and Ruddy Robinson-Cole.
“The heart which is centred and lifted up by angel wings represents the connection to our Tūpuna and the path of aroha they’ve laid down for us to follow. Joy is what lifts our hearts to live with purpose and peace.”
Kiri Nathan
Co-founder of the self-named fashion brand KIRI NATHAN, and founder of Kahui Collective, Kiri embodies identity and inclusivity.
Inspired by Aotearoa New Zealand and Te Ao Māori, the company is built on tradition, culture, unique designs, integrity, and a clear company vision. Kiri has received multiple excellence awards and a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the fashion industry in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday honours.
Her inspiration for the Kind Tee is “the foundation of kindness to me is how one person shows manaaki (support, care for, respect) to another person, when one wraps their korowai of love, kindness and protection around another, it is the greatest gift”.
Māori Mermaid
Jessica Hinerangi Thompson- Carr (also known as Māori Mermaid) creates art to embrace and capture her endless journey into the reclamation of her māoritanga. With a range of knowledge, Jessica is an artist, poet, and writer.
“The inspiration behind this piece was to depict kindness in the form that I see it,” said Jessica.
“I see our mothers and what they selflessly give, and the natural world in which humans have the ability to choose kindness over anything else. I wanted to draw something gentle and simple for this piece, hoping to evoke some warmth through the illustration.”
