MANAAKI SS26 – The Landing Collection Blurb

The Landing draws inspiration from Captain Cook’s first encounter with Māori in 1769—a moment that marked the beginning of cultural collision, curiosity, and the unfolding of colonisation. The arrival of European ships brought both fear and fascination to Māori, as foreign customs and goods clashed with Indigenous ways of life. This collection is inspired by the tension and complexity, reflecting on both the threat of intrusion and the intrigue of exchange.

The range opens with nautical-inspired garments in off white and classic navy, accented with white tipping stripes—hallmarks of traditional seafaring style. These familiar European silhouettes are reimagined through a Māori lens, incorporating symbolic elements like taniwha, tiki, and raranga through embroidery, weaving, and print. This fusion of cultures transforms timeless tailoring and sportswear into something uniquely bicultural.

From there, the collection shifts into a more grounded, earthy palette. A standout camo suit features an enlarged print of intertwining rimu branches, painted by Kat Tua, symbolising Māori resilience and survival in the face of colonisation—a system that marginalised tikanga and rangatiratanga. Garment-dyed denim in deep forest green and knitwear in natural tones and lime accents reflect Māori’s deep connection to Papatūānuku, the earth mother.

Navigation is a key theme throughout—acknowledging both European and Māori seafaring mastery. Classic maritime silhouettes nod to enduring fashion archetypes, while references to Hawaiki—the ancestral Polynesian homeland—and the great waka voyages of Māori are embedded in design details, echoing the stories found in our pepeha.

Ultimately, this collection is about truth-telling. It offers a Māori perspective on navigation and reclaims Cook’s arrival as a moment to assert Indigenous voice and challenge dominant colonial narratives. It’s about honouring mana motuhake—self-determination—and centring Māori identity within a modern design context.

MANAAKI blends contemporary daywear with Māori culture. The Landing symbolises the beginning of that collision—the complexity, the beauty, and the transformation that followed. It reminds us that reconciliation begins with education, shared understanding, and mutual respect for the stories we each carry.