Avara Studio

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Avara Studio

Designing curious objects to elicit moments of joy + ground you in your everyday. Pōneke, Aotearoa.

10/04/2026

DIRT 2026 is now online via my website! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Link in bio. Email or dm me any pātai. Ring resizing is complimentary (can size up). Ngā mihi for your support xx

04/04/2026

Welcoming in 2026 in April. A little late to acknowledge the start of the year but here we are! Looking forward to settling into many more days at this desk 🍃 ✨🧚🌳🕊️

04/04/2026

Blessed with the ātaahua Mina, Kiri and Gabby showing my DIRT collection at Āhua ✨✨✨ thank you for being so magic and wearing these pieces so beautifully ❣️❣️❣️

Ngā mihi to Āhua and the team
🔥 Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa
🧚Mina kirikakarawilliams gabbyadam_
📸 aliyah Tasha ✨ max

01/04/2026

Intro time! 👋 I'm Avara (they/them) - a takatāpui and non-binary designer currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau living nestled into the trees at the base of Maungawhau on Ngāti Whātua whenua.

My whakapapa is very multitudinal 🌀 my pākehā fam (Ireland and England) arrived pre te-tiritiri, my Māori whakapapa to Te Rarawa and Tainui and to Samoa more recently through one of my grandparents who came from Lau'lii.

Growing up in Kapanga Coromandel Town on Te Patukirikiri whenua I spent lots of time connecting with te taiao in a very playful/explorative way. A lot of my mahi whether it be adornment or uku ties back to themes and whakapapa narratives in te taiao. For me as a designer this is a way to connect with whenua and to centre it in contemporary contexts and conversations.

I have lots of appreciation and gratitude for makers and fellow tutū around me that inspire, teach and connect one and other in formal and informal ways. The amazing has been key to strengthening my practice working with whenua (and I know has done the same for many others!)

My training includes a Master in Design (industrial) which has set me up well for developing form and the process of continual trial and error in exploring new techniques and material manipulation. More recently I've the privilege of learning whakairo through different wānanga which has been an important development for me as a designer and maker, strengthening my connection to this intergenerational visual language.

Recently I've been stepping into the world of jewellery more seriously as I navigate my creative practice while managing a disability. Jewellery has been an amazing place to focus and am so excited to grow this side of my practice more this year 👀 Uku works will still happen just more slow paced and interspersed with other mahi.

Appreciate everyone who has been here for the many evolutions of Avara Studio throughout the past several years (wouldn't be here without your awhi and support). Feel free to comment or dm any pātai ✨
Avara x

25/03/2026

Some quick snaps from Āhua! Incredibly blessed with my amazingly talented models ❣️❣️❣️and some pre and post show silliness w my hype crew for good measure x

22/03/2026

The final phase of the DIRT collection: Kōwhai. This is the where the ngāhere of Tāne Mahuta comes alive with delicious colour and form in great abundance!

Kōwhai are inherently connected to whenua of course. Once the dirt and moisture finds a way into the hard shell of the seed, magic unfolds. The bright yellow seeds can roll around in the ocean for years they are so durable and hard-wearing!

I love harvesting kōwhai and seeing all the different varieties and cycles the rākau are in. I especially love growing them from seed and seeing the generations of knowledge inside each kākano come to life and unfurl into existence literally 🌱🌼

I've been using Kōwhai in my jewellery practice for 5 years now. This Kōwhai choker that is the centrepiece of this set has lived in my head as a concept for at least a year, and feel grateful to have been able to bring it to life for a special occasion like Āhua!

Ngā mihi nui ki a and
Go and take a look and try these pieces on at the shelter this week. Or come to the show on Tuesday night to see these pieces modelled! (Link in Āhua bio) x

🌼🌼🌼 Avara

21/03/2026

The second phase of the DIRT collection: kōkōwai. This phase is all about whenua/earth pigment/dirt and in particular a special kind, the deep red of kōkōwai. In this phase kōkōwai has been used to dye muka (harakeke fibre) which is a more traditional use of this whenua, and also embedded into silver (a more contemporary treatment).

Kōkōwai is an earth pigment that holds special significance in te ao Māori. It was (and still is) used in lots of different ways, including to stain whare (mixed with animal oil), to mark sites or taonga of significance, or painted on the body in some cases.

The red of this whenua links back to the red of the uku (clay) that Hineahuone was formed with, linking back to the first human existence on earth.

The whenua used in this collection from Kapanga Coromandel Town, Te Patukirikiri rohe.

You can find out more about kōkōwai by heading to the incredible resources of kauae Raro ❣️

You can also go have a tutū with these pieces yourself by popping into the this week as part of fashion week. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou!! I'll share the final phase of the DIRT collection tomorrow 🌼

19/03/2026

The DIRT collection starts with te pō, te ao featuring a range of pieces serving a strong energy shift to aid in creativity and emergence 🌚🌝

This phase of the collection includes a series of silver/pounamu rings and necklace, alongside flowing muka earrings dripping with pearls.

Available to view and try on at the as part of fashion week! Keep an eye out for kōrero on the next phase of the collection: Kōkōwai ❣️

11/03/2026

Final details for the DIRT collection for ĀHUA dropping soon! It'll be launching on Friday 20th March and will be in the showroom available for purchase til the 28th March! ❣️

With the show night on the 24th (buy tickets through the Āhua website) ✨✨✨ Ngā mihi to for producing an amazing show!

25/01/2026

Starting off 2026 with free shipping on orders over $150! If you're gonna invest in a beauty (such as the Pearl Diver ring), I'll get it to you (anywhere in Aotearoa) for free to say thanks 🖤✨

Shopping small artists and brands (especially now for people working with gold or silver 💸📈) is one way to say get outta here to souless big brands who aren't doing much for people or planet.

Every order is magic to me ✨✨✨
Ngā mihi!
Avara x

Address

Mount Eden
Auckland
1024

Website

https://www.avarastudio.com/

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