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The Whakapapa of our cotton (Part 6/7) Sewing and assembly

The Whakapapa of our cotton (Part 6/7) Sewing and assembly
It's easy to forget as consumers 1000's of km's from the point of origin, that each and every garment and item we purchase is sewn by real people, with whānau, tamariki and dreams for the future. We visited our team in India with a dream of meeting kānohi ki kānohi- face to face. To share and learn and seek connections. Continue reading

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 3/7) Spinning the threads

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 3/7) Spinning the threads
From a ball of cotton, not dissimilar to what you may have under your bathroom sink, to a finer and finer thread, our cotton is processed into threads after it leaves the Gin. One of the worlds most ancient skills and technologies transformed into a highly refined, industrial process that enables the production of the fabrics we clothe our bodies with each day. Continue reading

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 4/7) Weaving the fabric

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 4/7) Weaving the fabric
Take a look at your tshirt. At the individual threads. See how far you can follow one, what the weave looks like, smooth or textured, tight or loose. After the cotton is made into thread, it is woven on incredibly complex and efficient industrial scale looms. Our cotton fabrics are woven to our exact specifications, over and under, over and under. Aho and whenu in a dance of tension and ease, creating fabric. Continue reading

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 2/7) Separating fibre from seed

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 2/7) Separating fibre from seed
After the cotton is harvested from the field, a seed head covered in 'cotton wool', it is processed to separate the fibre from the seed at a factory called a Gin. A small but powerful process that turns a crop into a commodity, and the waste, reused to fuel the homes of those who grew it. Check out our video of our journey here to learn more. Continue reading

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 1/7) The Cotton Fields

The Whakapapa of our Cotton (Part 1/7) The Cotton Fields
Understanding the whakapapa and relationships that are interwoven into the fabrics we create is at the heart of our process. So we went on a little tipi-haere to document the journey first-hand to share with you. Part one begins in the Cotton Fields of Telangana, India. Continue reading

Our tentative first steps into sustainable Kākahu made in Aotearoa. (Part 1)

Our tentative first steps into sustainable Kākahu made in Aotearoa. (Part 1)
The dream of a truely sustainable Aho Kākahu collection has been a pipedream for many years- since before Aho really became Aho.
The appreciation of beautiful clothes, textiles, silhouette, structure and style has been one I've carried for a lifetime- but the complete lack of know-how to get the pipe-dream from dream to reality has had it on the back burner forever.
This year, we decided to give it a go- to literally jump in the deep end without much clue about either how to swim, who could direct us or where the current might take us. This is the story of our journey so far in creating fair trade, sustainable, organic, locally manufactured kākahu that both reflect our values and our aesthetic. Continue reading

Aho, the journey

Aho, the journey
AHO launched nearly 5 years ago. Not with bubbles, lights and a flash website, but with aching legs, a tired Māmā-to-be ,from our couch, late one evening in suburban Otautahi.
5 years later, it's the same, but different.
Come and check out our brand new video to learn a little more about the journey!
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Some musings on the ideals vs. realities in creating a kaupapa driven business

Some musings on the ideals vs. realities in creating a kaupapa driven business
If I were to attempt to describe Aho, I think I'd classify it more as an idealists' project than a business. Somewhere along the way we've become a 'business', but our foundations started in dreams for our Tamāhine, and as a bit of a reaction against a current that felt at odds with our values and our desire to enact a life built on kaupapa Māori values.
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On Blood Quantum and Belonging.

On Blood Quantum and Belonging.
The journey of becoming tau and settled in your own skin is a part of the human experience, But the journey of discovering, immersing and learning a culture that you've not been raised in,  sitting in discomfort and insecurity as you learn, and the gradual sense of belonging and calm that inches gradually closer is an experience all to familiar to many of us.

That question of self that resides deep within your pito. 
Who am I? How do I belong? Ko wai au? Nō hea au?
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