Lucky Dip Matariki Collection

Recycled from bed sheets, the meticulously designed collared shirt has multicoloured stripes consisting of yellow, white, blue, pink and purple as the pattern, long sleeves with white cuffs, and a pocket on the right hand side with buttons down the mid front. 

 

“Matariki is connected to well-being and is an omen of good fortune and health. This connection can be found in the saying 'Matariki, huarahi ki te oranga tangata; Matariki, pathway to the well-being of people.' The long sleeve shawl collar references vintage nurse uniforms from the 1960s and the pastel stripe reminded me of the colour palette used at Starship Hospital. The fabric was found in Paihia during my trip to the Far North in 2019.” 

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^{Quote and images by Tuhurangi Blair}

A collarless shirt with sleeves that are constructed with brown corduroy, while the body of the shirt is made from multicoloured, striped wool. There is a single inner yoke that is green silk. The front is open but can be pulled together with ties on the inside. 

 

“Ururangi is connected to wind and determines the nature of the winds for the year. For this style I chose to focus on protection from the elements and in this instance a mid-length sleeve cardigan made from a mink blanket. A warm underlayer that can be worn underneath a coat on days when Tawhirimatea is at his most violent. This fabric was sourced from Onehunga.” 

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^{Tuhurangi Blair}

The long-sleeved jacket has sleeves, hood and a front pocket in solid blue colouring with white draw strings on the hood and the bottom of the jacket. The body of the jacket is a type of tartan, coloured blue and green with thin red lines. 

 

“Waipunarangi is connected to rain and translates to mean ‘water that pools in the sky’. Taking inspiration from vintage British sportswear, a cagoule is a lightweight waterproof rain jacket. Made from a combination of deadstock nylon and a curtain sourced from Paihia, the body is a natural fibre for comfort while the sleeves and hood are synthetic for protection against the rain.” 

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^{Quote and images by Tuhurangi Blair}

The brightly coloured floral picturesque short-sleeved shirt with a cut away collar also has an over-the-top vest made from the same material. 

 

“Tupuanuku is connected to food from the Earth, with ‘nuku’ being a shortened version of Papatuanuku. This style references the guayabera commonly worn throughout South America. The garment originated due to the need for multiple pockets while collecting guavas. This is a Lucky Dip interpretation of the classic style where the pockets are detachable through the use of a pocket holster with a tie at the back and traditional button closure. This garment is made from a vintage Japanese silk kimono gifted from some friends in Wellington.” 

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^{Quote and images by Tuhurangi Blair}

The vest is made of camo denim with two distinctive front pockets. The bottom of the pocket is made from blue polyester and it has a highlighter yellow flap. 

 

“Tupuarangi is connected to food from the Sky. When Matariki appeared in the morning sky during Pipiri it signalled the time to start to harvest kererū. Taking a cue from outdoors wear, the hunting vest brings focus to the connection Matariki has with the harvesting of birds and other elevated food products. This garment was made from a variety of offcuts from previous styles all collected during a trip to Los Angeles.” 

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^{Quote and images by Tuhurangi Blair}