Noa Blanket Co
Working in pure New Zealand wool, Noa Blanket Co crafts artisanal blankets that unite traditional Māori storytelling with contemporary design aesthetics.
Noa Blanket Co weaves history and culture into its woollen blankets, imbuing its founders’ te ao Māori – a holistic Māori worldview that binds together people, nature, heritage and language – into beautiful, nurturing pieces that are crafted with care and with inclusivity front of mind.
“Our blankets are an art form and our business is a safe space where we share art, collective stories and narratives of identity, challenge and growth through the traditional medium of wool,” says Joshua Te Kani, who cofounded Noa Blanket Co with Whakaawa Te Kani.
The patterns and colours of Noa Blanket Co’s blankets tie traditional Māori storytelling with contemporary design aesthetics. Its collections are twofold. First, there are the Limited Edition collections, which are released “as stories need telling”. Once these collections are sold, they are not available again. “It’s not about getting product out into the world as fast as possible,” says Joshua. “It’s about taking our time, listening to what we are called to do, perfecting our craft and creating as and when the time feels right.”
Noa’s Limited Edition pieces capture moments, stories and feelings. The Te Aparautaki range was inspired by the pursuit of peace – even in the face of the conflict the Māori community of Aotearoa New Zealand were drawn into as they recently defended their self-determination.
In the recent Limited Edition collection, Kurawaka, the textiles spoke to the legacy of continual creation – the belief that we are vested with the ability to create because of what has created us. The latest Limited Edition release, Te Whare o Rongo, launched in September.
Then there is the Limitless collection, which features six made-to-order designs that reflect the intentionality behind the business in every carefully woven thread. Each blanket in the Limitless range brings to life an idea or concept rooted in Māori culture and identity, and the pieces’ permanence makes them ideal additions to design- and architect-led spaces. The Ngā wai koiora blanket represents the lifeblood that binds all peoples together.
Traditional Māori ceremonial cloaks – known as kaitaka – influence the decorative side borders, which represent the flow of water as it moves across the landscape from springs and streams to the ocean. The geometric main border is a take on aramoana patterns, a motif that represents the ocean, wayfaring and navigation and is a symbol of safe journeys. Variations in the border nod to ngā ia taiheke – the constant ebbing and flowing of the tides.
Noa Blanket Co encapsulates heritage, traditional crafts and empowerment in its woven blankets, literally wrapping people in culture.
