Ko Haromi Te Ata Pera Karaitiana tōku ingoa, I tipu ake ahau ki Ngāti Kahungunu, ki Ahuriri. We grew up in Napier close to our Haukainga Waimarama, did a few short stints here and there until we landed in Tāmaki Makaurau where i am Studying ngā Ture o Aotearoa and raising our Pēpi Āio Te Ata.

Pera Me Aio is more than just a brand it's a passion project close to the Manawa. My deepest hope is that more Māori (and everyone who wears our kākahu) can access Māori, ethical clothing made from organic and natural fibres, steering clear of the synthetic plastics like polyester that sit so close to our tinana. Wearing plastics against our skin isn't just uncomfortable, it's harmful to our wellbeing and even worse to Papatūānuku.

Through Pera Me Āio, I want to celebrate toi Māori honouring the quieter, deeper stories of our culture. At the same time, we're excited to celebrate other indigenous and traditional ways of dressing, like the Jinbei shirts we've created, drawing from Japan's beautiful summer loungewear tradition of light, airy cotton or linen that lets the body breathe.

Our designs feature original artwork inspired by Aotearoa's native plants, manu, and rākau, from the resilient Mānuka to the Rare Ngutu Kākā and the beautiful kererū, printed onto ethical fabrics so you can wear our whenua close to you. We want to share knowledge about these taonga, helping people connect more deeply with te Taiao.

Above all, we're building a community of friends and whānau who care about Kaitiakitanga in the context of today's fashion industry. By choosing natural, low-impact materials and mindful practices, we can all take steps toward better habits, reduce waste, and leave a cleaner, healthier footprint on Papatūānuku for the generations to come.

Nau mai, haere mai ki te whānau, join us in wearing with purpose, intention, Mana and Aroha for our Whenua and our Pēpi.