Kiwiana Embroiderable Bears

Kiwiana Embroiderable Bears

Project 2018-05-11 15:30:30 +1200

**About Me**

Hi, Im Jess and I embroider keepsake designs onto bears and blankets. I am based in Wellington New Zealand. I really enjoy being able to help people, I have always been one to help with charities, fundraising and just making people feel happy, so when the idea to design and embroider such beautiful and special details onto something you could keep forever came about I was head first into it and haven’t stopped since. Since starting this venture I have been able to see that there is a gap in the market. That gap was for a kiwiana range of bears.

**Behind the Name**

I like to think that as a kiwi we are pretty sentimental, in saying that many people I have met in my time don’t even need to be a kiwi to be sentimental about New Zealand. And I thought being that there are so many kiwis abroad that something nice to accompany their memories, keepsakes and special times like a kiwiana designed bear was in need. I wanted to design a range that was as true to its look as much as possible but still had that childhood likeness to it, much like goodnight kiwi when we were children, all while maintaining the colours, quirks and looks of each animal. So Kijawii was born. The name Kijawii came from my American friends, I often found that overseas a kiwi to them was the fruit, the kiwi was actually the kiwibird and as for us as kiwis, well they just called us New Zealanders. When I explained what our definitions were IE kiwi is the bird, kiwifruit is the fruit and kiwi is us as well, it was a little confusing, so being that my name is Jess they starting calling me Kijawii. This was their way of referring to me as a “kiwi”.

**What do I need?**

With the designs and samples now completed, there is a minimum order requirement of 500 bears in total spread across 3 designs. While I have created a group and have had retailers interested in stocking these designs I still have to fund it out of my own pocket and being a small business and a busy mum of 3 kiddos it then becomes a little bit harder. This is my dream, my goal, to have something that I created from the very beginning with a pen and paper, to see them come to life and be detailed with the utmost special details on them to be kept forever. I don’t want to see that fall behind because things got hard so this is where I am reaching out and asking for some help.

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