This is not a drill: Nisa is closing its doors in April 2025 (for real this time)
Kia ora koutou,
Don't be sad we are closing, celebrate that you were part of it!
Nisa has helped to launch women into careers or the workforce within New Zealand, helping many of those into homes and study. It has become a place of community and warmth for the women who worked here, and for all of the customers who visited the shop, came along to events, and who have been a part of our amazing online community.
You probably know about the wonderful things Nisa has achieved over the last seven to eight years. From underwear to careers, we’re so, so proud of everything we’ve made and of everyone who has worked with us.
A huge big thank you to each and every single one of you for all of your support over the past twenty months, or more.
When Nisa closed down in July 2023, a small team took a huge, risky leap to suddenly take over the company and restart the business with a Pledge Me campaign. We wanted to build on its foundations as an ethical and sustainable clothing manufacturer in New Zealand, that was selling to the world. The team, supported by a few key people, ran the most successful project campaign that Pledge Me ever hosted: it was fully funded in under twenty four hours ($80k), and had double the amount funded by the time the campaign closed ($165k).
In the last eighteen months, a lot has changed for Nisa: from the owners of the business to the way we pattern make our garments, to taking on contract work from other designers.
Let's look at what we've been able to do with your ongoing support as pledgers, sponsors, customers, volunteers and the community!
We provided employment:
- Raised the number of women from refugee backgrounds that have been employed by the business to 31, with 734 months of work provided.
- Nisa 2.0 employed new staff members from refugee backgrounds in our customer care and production areas, and hosted a podcast episode with Red Cross about refugee employment pathways.
We offered New Zealand made, ethical, sustainable clothing options:
- Nisa made over 45,600 pairs of Women's briefs, and over 5,000 pairs of men's briefs since Elisha started the workshop in August 2017.
- Launched two successful reversible swimwear ranges since we restarted. We were also able to include some beautiful hand woven baskets and hats from from a community initiative in Bolgatanga, Ghana.
- Our downtown Wellington factory was featured in a Seven Sharp episode about New Zealand manufacturing.
- Made our first Low to Zero Waste Activewear collection.
- Launched our first underwire bras, Adele and Ashley, within the past 18 months.
- Sent out over 38,000 orders since October 2017!
Hosted community events, talks & tours:
- Ran successful briefs, bras and swimwear workshops.
- Screened movies like Patagonia's The Shitthropocene.
- Hosted a menopause education session (which was mind-blowing).
- Hosted an open mic session with Ethically Kate, and invited her to our podcast.
- Opened our space to groups like the Wellington Womens Lawyers Association.
- Shared our stories with Otago University, Zonta, Creative Mornings, Wellington City Library and more. Nisa was also used as a Otago University course work innovation case study!
Collaborated with or supported others:
- Started contract manufacturing for other fashion labels, businesses and World of Wearable Arts.
- Had an amazing collaboration with Garage Project.
- Ran a Gold Week in place of Black Friday and fundraised for Medecins Sans Frontieres.
- Provided briefs to Foster Hope, Women's Refuge and the Wellington City Mission's Social Supermarket
- Hosted fashion interns from Whitecliffe and Massey University.
- Hosted two UnionAid Mindanao young leaders programmes from Philippines.
- and more!
Unfortunately, sales have continued to drop further in the past few months, and costs continue to rise, and this is unsustainable. We feel that if we raise our prices any more to cover these, our products will become unattainable for our customers, which really starts to go against how we want to operate as a retailer. So, we have decided to close Nisa.
Our online store will close on Tuesday 8th April at midnight, while the Willis Street store's last day will be Saturday 12th April.
Until then, our team will be sewing up our remaining fabric and sending out your orders. We’re telling you now, so you have time to stock up on your favourite styles before they’re gone. First in, best dressed - stock is limited!
We want to be able to close this chapter well for our people and our environment. We aim to sew and sell up all our stock, so no elastics or cut pieces go to landfill. If you have done one of our sewing workshops and want to spend some time with us and help sew up the remaining items, please get in touch!
Shopping with us is the best way to support Nisa during the closing process, and will determine how much work we can offer the team before they move on. Helping the team with this transition is our top priority, and we are working with them individually to help them plan their next steps.
Thank you again, whether you have been a supporter from day one, or whether you have recently placed your first order.
Every Nisa garment in your drawers represents an opportunity we have created together, and there have been many good ripple effects to others in the staff families and the wider community. If you'd like to, you can also leave a goodbye note for the team online.
Noho ora mai,
Pam, Queen, Yuri, Li Ling & Ali - Nisa 2.0 💛💙💜🩷💚
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