Join us in conversation between Pātaka’s Lead Curator Ioana Gordon-Smith, Joshua and Whakaawa Te Kani (Noa Blanket Co) and fashion designer Jeanine Clarkin. Learn about the significance of blankets to them as an art form and where their passion for blanket creating/styling began.
Jeanine Clarkin is a pioneer of Māori fashion in Aotearoa, having started her eponymous label over 27 years ago. Jeanine's design story is one where success and integrity have been woven together to create a design history and practice that encompasses Haute Couture to Slow Fashion. https://www.jeanineclarkin.com/about
Whakaawa and Joshua Te Kani grew up in Tauranga and spent their upbringing immersed in the Māori culture and developed a passion for Māori language, arts and customs. While Whakaawa has an eye for design and textiles, Josh has a vast knowledge of matauranga Māori and a natural flair for sharing and applying these learnings in today’s world. After years of preparation and planning, Whakaawa and Josh founded Noa Blanket Co in December, 2021, believing the knowledge of identity and the role it plays ensures connectedness through relationships with people and to places. https://noablanketco.nz/pages/our-story
