Our clothes are a walking protest
“It’s a really amazing way as an artist to have a travelling canvas that is cruising the streets.”
Māori designers are increasingly using their clothes as spaces for protest and expressions of tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake.
Ohinga spoke to artist and activist Hori and fashion designer Nichola Te Kiri about the meaning behind their work and the increasing demand for clothes that make political statements.
“Wearing these clothes is about amouring up. It brings confidence and a lot of people who are wearing our stuff are going into spaces where they need to almost brace themselves for it,” says Hori.
This is part of our reo Māori series, Ohinga, created by @mahitahiagency with funding from @te_mangai_paho. Stay tuned for a new episode every week.
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