When Kiki Judd was living in Shanghai, she was inspired by the city's beautiful fabrics and easy access to talented makers.
Moving back to New Zealand, she reached out to her friend, Alice Isles, and together they launched their womenswear fashion label, hej hej, online in early 2018.
"It felt like anything was possible. We'd always wanted to do something together," shared the designers.
Their first collection consisted of dresses, tops and pants made from 100 percent linen.
Linen continues to be the top choice of fabric for both designers, given its intrinsic indulgence, lightweight qualities and flexible texture.
The brand tries to not take fashion too seriously and instead design pieces that they believe are wearable and versatile, utilising colourful and playful designs.
hej hej's most recent collection is called "Two Birds. One Stone." Featuring iconic custom prints, playful styles and autumnal hues, this collection is designed to be worn from summer to winter, from work to leisure, and couch slouch to couch chic.
The designers have also created a custom animal print in a bold combination of dark cobalt blue and black for both linen and knitwear.
"The statement is design is quirky but versatile, a key theme to this collection," added Isles and Judd.
Since their launch, they have also expanded their offering and added knitwear to their collections, extending the life of hej hej's linen pieces through the cooler months of the year.
Judd and Isles are also excited to have opened a their flagship store in Wellington last year.
"We're both originally from Wellington and we're really proud to see hej hej represented in the heart of the city."
