Our History
Our History
The Beginning:
In 2000 our team developed a range of the best quality New Zealand made knitwear. Visitors to New Zealand were introduced to the superior workmanship, crafting and quality natural fibres. Since then we have continued to grow! Expanding our ranges using the best of New Zealand ingenuity, manufacturing, and materials.
Origins:
It all started with Merinosilk Yarn; blending the best of New Zealand natural fibres. The goal was to create premium fashion products for our customers using the best of the best blend of New Zealand. The difference to other brands:
- Keep their manufacturing in house and only using fibres that their existing capabilities could work with.
- Constrained by their technology, openness to share technology and investment in research and development.
Learn About Kapeka
Natural & Sustainable
Sustainable natural fibres have always been at the heart of Kapeka, well before their wider benefits became globally appreciated. Possums harvested for the fibre blend...
Kapeka's Fernmark Certification
Kapeka is proud of its Fernmark certification. An endorsement by the New Zealand Government, a mark of trust that communicates a product's country of origin and connection...
Decades of Expertise
We have been crafting New Zealand made luxury knitwear for over 27 years. Founded by Peter Hanson, when opportunity was seen to bring together the...
Find Your Perfect Fit: Where to Buy Kapeka Knitwear in New Zealand
Kapeka Knitwear is your go-to for luxurious, New Zealand-made knitwear that blends timeless style with premium natural fibers like merino, possum, and alpaca. But where...
Zero-Waste Fashion Through Whole Garment Technology
Since the beginning, Kapeka has always prioritised natural, sustainable fibres locally made here in New Zealand to reduce our own carbon emission. From sourcing the...
Kapeka's Sponsorship and Community Involvement
Kapeka is a proud sponsor of the New Zealand Ski Team and International Ski Racing Academy. We are particularly proud of Alice Robinson, recent winner of...
Regenerative Fibres
At Kapeka, we make use of possums caught in the wild through the pest control process to develop our fibres Merinosilk & Mahana Cashmere. In...
The Story behind Kapeka using Possum Fur
The common brushtail possum, was first introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur trade. The possum has a thick, bushy tail,...
The Kapeka Guide To Looking After Your Knitwear
What is the best way to care for your knitwear? This guide tells you all you need to know on how to care and wash all...
All You Need To Know: Merino Base Layers, Body wear and Thermals
Regardless of what you call it base layers, body wear and thermals all are the close-fitting layer that are key to keeping warm and dry...
Our heritage is championed through the manufacturing, designs and colours of every Kapeka garment. Our head designer, Bridget Morgan has thorough knowledge on procurement of fine, low micron, quality fibre, the blending of fibres to make it superior and the design to ensure unique, elegant style with a comfortable fit, all of which is sustainably sourced and made.
We proudly hold the FernMark, a New Zealand Government endorsement of trust and origin. We partner with New Zealand’s most experienced knitwear artisans to craft knitwear. All our garments are pill-resistant, pre-shrunk, hand-finished and trialled for durability and consistency giving the customer a garment that will last.
Possums can cause catastrophic dieback, the complete collapse of a forest canopy – especially tree species that possums prefer, such as rātā and kāmahi. At Kapeka, we make use of possums caught in the wild through the pest control process to develop our fibres Merinosilk & Mahana Cashmere