The chalkydigits concept: casual life-styled clothing for outdoorsy climber types on and off the crag!
The Winter 2011 range:
“Sometimes taking a step back and getting some reflection time is the best thing you can do. It’s scary to make big changes and take risks - but it always brings excitement and a breath of fresh air.
"This season we have just that in store for you ...We hope you share our vision...please let us know what you think."
Liz Collins, Founder.
In their own words:
Chalkydigits is no new kid on the block; after ten years we’ve come a long way but our core values have stayed the same:
KEEPIN’ IT LOCAL…NZ MADE ROCKS!
We make all our gear in this land of the long white cloud; it’s what we believe in and so this is how we roll. We know the people that craft our clothes because they have been doing it for a decade now and they do a damn fine job. The cost of making quality tees in NZ isn’t cheap but the cost of not making them here is bigger - so as long as we keep producing our gear here, then the clothing industry in New Zealand will be kept alive and humming and that is important to us. This means talented up and coming designers will have a platform
to develop their skills and craft here, which is great because like our native birds, our creativity is unique – and we don’t want either of them becoming extinct!
LOOKIN’ AFTER OUR LAND…We endeavour to make the highest quality clothing with the lowest impact on the environment so we use healthy organic cotton, homegrown merino wool and other natural fibres where we can. By using organic cotton we save the planet from colossal amounts of unnecessary pollution, as the production of this fibre is responsible for a quarter of the world’s pesticide use. Our merino wool is also low-impact; we select only zque certified merino, grown locally to keep our carbon footprint minimal.
Lately, our commitment to this land we love has deepened to include the preservation of our vulnerable native species, which is why we have initiated the restoration of the South Island Robin on Chalky Island. We feel so lucky to get to be a part of this historic event! We know we’re not perfect by any means, and there are limitations on what we can achieve, but
we’re constantly striving to push the boundaries and to keep it honest. After all, it’s our homeland that inspires us more than anything so we want to make sure it’s well looked after.
CREATIVITY AND FRESHNES MAKES US FEEL GOOD...
We aim for our styles to be reflective of our adventurous kiwi culture and lifestyle, but they can certainly hold their own on the world stage; chalkydigits is original and distinctive yet sublimely practical, providing function and aesthetic appeal. Because we’re New Zealand-made we are assured of the highest possible quality so we can dedicate more of our time
to designing the freshest clothes around. Often we invite local artists to contribute graphics to our range which keeps things innovative and showcases the huge pool of talent we have in
New Zealand and we don’t make bucket loads of each style so you can be the individual you are. We want you to feel good about wearing our clothes.
We hope you enjoy our latest offerings and have a wickedly good winter!
Chalkydigits has had a long and fulfilling love affair with merino wool. Not only does it perform extremely well as a fabric and look mighty fine but, best of all, it’s produced right here at home. Our merino is sourced solely from zque accredited farms, which mean many good things for the sheep, the farmers, and for those that produce and wear this wonder
fibre – that’s you and me!
For this winter shoot we were lucky enough to be hosted by Flock Hill Station in the picturesque high country of Canterbury. As well as having some of the best bouldering sites around (which we found very hard to ignore) Flock Hill Station produces zque-accredited merino, so we got to see first hand how it all happens down on the farm.
Most of us in New Zealand have some childhood memories of time spent on farms; rounding up sheep, riding horses and quad bikes, climbing trees and having rip-roaring parties in the woolshed (or was that last bit just me?), so we were thrilled to take a trip down memory lane and re-live those golden days while being educated about a day in the life of our merino farmers.
We experienced the clear mountain air and the breath-taking views that are a part of the fabric of life for merino farmers and their sheep. We also got to see our merino wool from the beginning of its life ycle – the grass roots level, if you will. We feel better knowing and seeing with our own eyes the good things that come from caring about animals, the environment and the overall impact of what we do. And we are thrilled that all this goodness is happening basically right on our back doorstep!
Conventional cotton production is nasty stuff, responsible for damaging the environment and local communities through the heavy use of pesticides and toxins. Cotton is the most pesticideintensive crop on the planet.
The residual chemical traces left from the finishing of this fabric is thought to contribute to allergic reactions in babies and other individuals with sensitive skin. The use of organic cotton therefore has potential health benefits for those that wear it, and definitely for those who grow and process it.
By using organic cotton we are contributing to the ongoing conservation and preservation of our planet.
We’re proud to help spread the demand for sustainable and healthy farming practices by supporting organic cotton. We hope you will be too.
Just down the road and over a few rivers from chalkydigits are the Southern Alps, and some of the world's best Merino wool-producing stations.
This is where we get the wool for chalkydigits homegrown merino garments. And we know it’s the best, because all our merino carries the Zque stamp of approval.
Zque standards are raising the bar of on-farm management practices, which means a strict no-mulesing policy, freerange conditions for sheep and complete transparency of the production chain. Mulesing is a gruesome method of preventing fly strike which is not permitted on Zque accredited properties.
Zque merino farmers are required to follow guidelines on soil conservation and wastewater pollution to ensure the preservation of our beautiful planet.
Its simple really, Zque is a way of doing business that feels right. It’s about being responsible and putting our ethics into action.
Zque™ is a trademark of The New Zealand Merino Company Limited. Find out more about Zque visit http://www.zque.co.nz/
