Our Ethical & Sustainable Commitment
He kākahu aroha, he kākahu taonga – garments created with care, integrity and purpose.
1. Our Approach: Slow, Intentional, Māori-Led Fashion
Korowai by Hiria is proudly Māori-led, kaupapa-driven, and grounded in tikanga.
Our commitment to sustainability begins with how we design, how we make, and how we honour the people who wear our kākahu.
We operate on a slow-fashion, made-to-order model, ensuring every piece is created with intention, cultural integrity, and respect for the whenua.
2. Made-to-Order Production (Zero Overproduction)
Unlike fast fashion, every kākahu is:
• individually crafted
• ordered with purpose
• produced only when needed
This eliminates:
• unsold stock
• landfill waste
• unnecessary manufacturing
and ensures each korowai has a purposeful journey from our studio to your whānau.
3. Minimal-Waste Cutting Using Templates
We use precise cutting templates to ensure:
• consistent quality
• efficient planning
• minimal offcuts
• reduced textile waste
This small but powerful practice significantly reduces our environmental footprint and ensures responsible material use.
4. Sustainable Packaging with R3 Pack
We ship every order using R3 Pack home-compostable courier bags.
These bags are:
• plant-based
• plastic-free
• compostable at home
• created by a NZ-owned business
This ensures our packaging aligns with our values of caring for Papatūānuku.
5. Local Production in West Auckland
Every korowai is handmade in our Kelston studio.
Local production means:
• lower carbon emissions
• ethical oversight
• fair wages
• no offshore exploitation
• authentic cultural stewardship
Your kākahu is crafted by real people, not unknown factories.
6. Fair Work, Whānau Employment & Community Uplift
Our team model centres whānau and community.
We commit to:
• fair hourly rates
• safe working conditions
• cultural respect
• upskilling and teaching traditional methods
• empowering Māori women and young people through craft
Our work environment is mana-enhancing for both makers and recipients.
7. Long-Life Heirloom Craftsmanship
Sustainability is not just about materials — it’s about longevity.
Our korowai are designed to:
• last years or generations
• be worn for milestones across a lifetime
• become whānau taonga
• reduce the need for repeat purchases
An heirloom garment is one of the most sustainable garments you can own.
8. Tikanga-Aligned & Culturally Responsible Design
We honour the integrity of Māori design by ensuring:
• appropriate cultural context
• meaningful patterns
• correct use of tāniko
• storytelling that reflects your kaupapa
• no mass replication or misuse of Māori symbolism
This protects the cultural sustainability of Māori Arts.
9. Low-Waste Daily Practices in Our Studio
We commit to:
• reusing offcuts when appropriate
• recycling cardboard and packaging tubes
• only ordering materials as needed
• small-batch preparation to avoid waste
• regularly reviewing our workflow for improvements
10. Our Ongoing Commitment
We’re continually improving. Our future goals include:
• introducing more recycled or lower-impact materials
• measuring our studio waste annually
• exploring Toitū environmental alignment
• publishing an annual sustainability summary
• creating educational content about responsible korowai care
11. Supporting Local Suppliers, Creatives & Businesses
Sustainability is not just environmental — it is social, cultural and economic.
Korowai by Hiria is committed to uplifting our local economy, supporting Māori business ecosystems, and strengthening whānau-first initiatives across Tāmaki Makaurau.
We intentionally choose local suppliers and service providers wherever possible, including:
• NZ-owned packaging suppliers such as R3 Pack
• Local printers including BannerBuzz and Fast Printing
• Local makers such as Trendy Trims (Onehunga) and Kapa Haka Makers for cord, trims and specialised materials
• An Eye for Art, supporting our creative vision from the beginning
• West Auckland businesses for coffee, events, studio fit-out and signage — including Sherlock Signage
• Local content creators, photographers and videographers such as Lumo & Co
• NZ-based accountants, business mentors and service providers including Keeping Accounting EZ and Invigorate Media
We are proud members of Māori and community networks, including:
• Whāriki Māori Business Network
• MWDI (Māori Women’s Development Inc.) community
• West Auckland small business networks
• Regional entrepreneurship and innovation circles
We also maintain strong local relationships with organisations such as Te Whānau o Waipareira, ensuring our work remains rooted in community, connection, and whānau-first initiatives.
By choosing local, we:
• reduce shipping emissions
• keep value circulating within our community
• reinvest into Māori and Pasifika business ecosystems
• support whānau-owned enterprises and creatives
• strengthen sustainable, community-led growth
This commitment ensures our korowai uplift not only those who wear them, but the wider communities we belong to and serve.
12. Our Future: Accreditation, Growth & Continuous Commitment
As Korowai by Hiria continues to grow, so does our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of ethical practice, sustainability, and cultural integrity.
Over the next 12 months, we will be actively working toward formal ethical and environmental accreditation, ensuring our kaupapa is recognised, measured and continually elevated.
This journey reflects our commitment to:
• greater transparency
• strengthened sustainability practices
• cultural and social responsibility
• leadership within Māori fashion
• integrity in every step of our craft
This is not a destination, but an ongoing responsibility — a dedication to carry our values mō ake tonu atu (forever and always).