Natura Aura and Iwi Creations are founded and designed by Leilani and Anastasia Rickard, two contemporary New Zealand Fashion Designers inspired by their mixed-race heritage and culture, nature, and science.

‘Natura’ being the Latin word for Nature (chosen by Anastasia for her science and art design background) and ‘Aura’ (chosen by Leilani for her art and weaving background), reflects the fusion of science, nature, and fashion while being inspired by their cultural heritage.

Leilani and granddaughter Anastasia are passionate fashionistas based in Rotorua and Tauranga, New Zealand. Inspired by New Zealand’s culture, nature, and science, they have created unique high street fashion collections together. Iwi Creations hosiery features original Māori tribal patterns designed, by a contemporary Māori carver and is made in New Zealand.

Leilani Rickard is a Contemporary Fashion Designer, with a background in Traditional Māori weaving. Anastasia brought up with her mother Marchand and grandmother Leilani’s creative flair, has often worked alongside her grandmother at fashion shows and wearable arts. Anastasia Rickard is a Laboratory Technician, Researcher, Designer, and Traditional Māori weaver. Whilst Anastasia was studying science and working in the science field, she discovered the beauty of microscopic imagery. This imagery is used as the inspiration of Natura Aura.

Timeline:

2007 – Entrant into Rotorua’s Wearable Arts Competition. Leilani created a handwoven Harakeke garment with a mix of traditional and contemporary elements.

2008 – Anastasia worked at Scion as a Student Research Assistant, where she worked on different microscopes analysing different native weaving plants. Anastasia’s friend, a German Scientist, wanted to learn more about Pa Harakeke (New Zealand Flax). As a token of her gratitude, Anastasia’s friend gave Harakeke microscopic imagery to Leilani and Anastasia as a gift.

2013 – Leilani and Anastasia won the Avant-Garde Category at Miromoda and showcased their rainwear collection ‘Weather the Storm’ at New Zealand Fashion Week. ‘Weather the Storm’ was inspired by their Māori ancestors, who wore Paki (rainwear made from Harakeke).

2015 – Iwi Creations showcased in the J Autumn Fashion Showcase on a floating catwalk on the River Seine in Paris. International fashion show producer Jessica Minh Anh invited Leilani and Anastasia to participate in the fashion event.

2016 – Natura Aura won the Established Designer Category at Miromoda and showcased their daywear collection ‘Science Nature Fashion’ at New Zealand Fashion Week. ‘Science Nature Fashion’ was inspired by the fuse of science, nature, and fashion and the unlimited possibilities with microscopic designs and imagery.

2016 – Natura Aura showcased in Tiki Āhua – Kā Mura: Set Alight, an annual fashion, design, music, and dance extravaganza through the hallowed mist and steam of Te Whakarewarewa Valley, at Rotorua’s Te Puia.

2018 – Natura Aura showcased at NAC International Fashion Culture Week, in the New Zealand Designers Show in Auckland. This event showcased designers from New Zealand, Australia, and China.

2018 – Natura Aura showcased in Tiki Āhua – Kā Mowai: Sacred Waters, this event captivates the imagination and stimulates the creativity and development of Māori art and Māori people.

2018 – Natura Aura showcased in InnoNative Indigenous Fashion Show MOKO – Making Our Mark On The World in Whangarei. An evening of fashion, art, dance, and music.

We also have an online store and a number of stockists located around New Zealand:

Kawakawa

Grass Hut

Whangarei

Hine Raumati Whangarei

Auckland – Warkworth

Unity Collection

Auckland

Moa Grey Lynn

Hamilton

Rotorua

Skyline Rotorua iNZpired Retail Store

Iti Gifts

Te Puia

Wellington

Te Papa Store

Leilani and Anastasia work together to create single crafted garments and produce large piu piu, maro and kakahu runs, for performing groups and schools. All of their weaving pieces aim to perpetuate, promote and preserve Māori culture, through traditional and contemporary Māori art.

If you would like to enquire about any of our weaving garments or piu piu, maro, and kakahu production runs, feel free to contact us at info@naturaaura.com