Olympic Athletes Wearing Home-Grown Clothing

When New Zealand’s Olympic team walks on to the world stage at Beijing they will be dressed in a range of clothing designed and produced in Horowhenua.

The DesignTex Group, a cluster of 16 textile designers and manufacturers in Horowhenua and Kapiti, developed the Kapinua brand. The group received funding from the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Buy Kiwi Made campaign and this enabled them to build the brand and position themselves to tender for the contract.

Under the Kapinua brand the group has developed and produced all of the Olympic team’s formal and casual wear, from the fabrics to the logos. The range includes everything from the tracksuits and T-shirts to blazers, trousers and skirts.

With more than 170 athletes and nearly as many officials attending the Olympics, fitting the clothing has been a well-organised logistical exercise and a number of athletes have had all garments tailor-made to accommodate their specific physiques.

Mayor Brendan Duffy said he was very proud of the people behind the project. “They have worked incredibly hard in the background developing the designs and producing the garments. It is a brilliant example of local companies working together to be competitive in the international market. Our Olympic team will wear these garments on the world stage.”

Mr Duffy said he hoped people of Horowhenua would seize this extraordinary opportunity to take some pride from people in our “patch” who have had the chance to boost New Zealand’s image on the international sporting stage. Winning the contract to produce the Olympic team’s apparel has given the DesignTex Group the opportunity to look at other projects and they are already considering a number of similar contracts.

The public can lend their support to the New Zealand Olympic team by purchasing merchandise from the Olympic Supporters range of Kapinua Clothing, available online at www.kapinua.co.nz.



Photo: Pictured at the launch of the clothing for the New Zealand Olympic team are, from left: Pakira Heke of PHD Graphics, Mayor Brendan Duffy, Mayoress Sheryl Duffy, swimmer Dean Kent and his mother Lorraine Kent, and Pira-Hira Tukapua of Taitoko Design and Print.