New Zealand Made?
Yes and no.
The etching of the various badges is done right here in New Zealand from three different laser etching companies who each specialise in different materials, Auckland for the etching directly onto the cap fabric direct, Christchurch for the laser etched steel and Dargaville for the laser etched wooden badges.
We design most of the badges ourselves, but from time to time work with local artists to create new designs. We have also held competitions to design our next badge with the public and will certainly do this again.
We then customise the various badges here in Timaru, heat, blowtorch, bend, steam, sand and then paint / varnish to seal and protect the badges from the elements. Each badge is finished by hand, all slightly different ensuring your hat is unique to you with no two exactly the same.
Once complete, we position, glue and rivet the badges to the caps, ready for their forever homes.
We currently buy blank caps from five different sources, most of the blank caps we use are made in China and imported into three Auckland based distributors we buy from. We also import NZ exclusive limited run styles directly from Italy, South Africa, Australia and the USA that you won’t find anywhere else.Once complete, we position, glue and rivet the badges to the caps, ready for their forever homes.
So the short answer is the blank caps are currently all imported and all of the laser etched badges are made here and design creative is started and finished here in New Zealand to honour this awesome country we all love share.
We’ve recently added new products to our collection, face and beard masks, stamped metal badges and neck tubes.
Our new stamped metal badges are designed here and made in China.
Our V1 beard masks are designed and made here in Timaru.
Our neck tubes are designed here, then made in China.
New Zealand made? Yes and no.
