facebook.com/swazinz
twitter.com/SwaziNZ
Physical Address: 94 Oxford Street, Levin
Operating Since: 1994
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| Davey and Maggie Hughes |
Creativity. Innovation. Social and environmental responsibility.
What kind of clothes do you make? The clothes we create provide solutions for people who work and play in the outdoors.
Who makes your clothes?
We make the clothes at our world headquarters in Levin.
Who sells your clothes? Can we buy them online?
All our clothing can be purchased online or through RD1 stores nationwide. They are also available from the legendary Haddad brothers in Otorohanga, as well as Hamills in Palmerston North and Christchurch.
What price range are your clothes in?
From expensive to freekin' expensive! There's no such thing as cheap in high performance. We design and personally test our gear in some of the harshest environments on the planet. From the -100°C windchill we experienced in Siberia to the frigid fjords of Svalbard, Swazi gear is proven or we simply don't produce it. It is practical and durable and we stand behind it 100%.
Why do you think NZ clothing labels outsource their manufacturing overseas?
Personally? Greed.
This current world economy is based on one thing, MORE for LESS; driven by super-consumptive concepts. I don't see it changing in the short term. Which doesn't mean everyone has to follow suit. I want to craft the finest products. I want to walk into work and hear staff singing because they are genuinely happy. They have self-esteem; jobs that matter. Lives that are full. I want my customers to know that when they buy Swazi, they are making an investment in society. Contributing to conservation projects that count; keeping good people employed.
Our company obviously has to make a profit but there are much bigger things than merely enhancing our bottom line. Building a better world, showing respect and taking social responsibility seriously - you know, all the things we try to teach our children then conveniently forget as we grow older! Of course, this makes me a naive simpleton in many people's eyes. Again, personally? What a compliment!
What could the Government do to help clothing labels keep it in NZ?
Nothing. I don't want to sound like a pessimist but it is People who will ultimately make this decision, not government. One thing I have learnt is subsequent governments are not actually interested in people. Yes, a touch sad, but true nonetheless. What is even more sad is, they seem to lack any pride in our nation.
Imagine this! Imagine if the government had to treat your company the same way you treated your staff. How cool would that be? Imagine if we started to think about NZers first? Stopped selling jobs overseas for small favours to large countries. Stopped selling those large countries our farms. Stopped knighting importers. I'd better stop right there because I'm sounding a little bit too much of a political activist and not a clothing manufacturer!
Anything to add?
Life is what you make it. Be positive. Be accepting. Most of all, have fun!
He tangata. He tangata. He tangata.
It is People. It is People. It is People.
