After five years of making clothing and careers, the Nisa workshop is officially closing its doors in July.
Founder and CEO Elisha Watson put Nisa on the market at the start of the year, but negotiations fell through.
“We have tried every trick in the book to keep our social enterprise going, but we’ve got to the point where we’re not in a financial position to continue operating without a buyer to inject capital,” Watson says.
The underwear, activewear and swimwear label was founded in 2017 to provide women from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Wellington with their first job in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Nisa’s goal was never to provide a job for life but rather to provide a launchpad for careers in New Zealand, Watson said.
She also went on to say that she was incredibly proud of everything Nisa had achieved over the last five years, dispatching over 25,000 orders, collecting more than 2500 five-star reviews, paying over $1.5 million in wages, and providing 29 women from refugee and migrant backgrounds with valuable work experience and a place to belong.
Reflecting on her time at Nisa, Watson said, “We’ve made garments people cherish and changed lives in the process. Even though we’re closing, that impact will endure,”
Watson has also brought on a career coach to work one-on-one with each employee to help them plan their next steps.
“I know that with the skills and confidence they’ve developed at Nisa, every member of the team would be an absolute asset to any employer.”
The highlights for Watson have always been the team coming together to help through really busy patches. Whether it is during Covid times or through the hustle of keeping up with closing down orders, she knows she can always rely on her team members to give a helping hand.
“After Nisa, I'll be spending time with my baby and caring for my family. I don't have any solid plans as of yet. As much as I love the fashion industry, it's also exciting thinking of the opportunities that might exist in other places and how I can apply my skills to help other amazing businesses.”
Garments will remain available to purchase until their online store closes on July 16.
