Simple but stylish jerseys spun from a family yarn
It was over a cuppa with dad during a Covid-19 lockdown that Kate Macdonald decided to make the humble homespun jersey a fashion item, using wool from their own sheep.
Macdonald, who started Davaar and Co in 2020, moved home during the lockdown and began working on her parents’ farm, Davaar Station. It was perfect timing, as she could come up with ideas for her business.
Macdonald and her dad, James, grew up wearing jerseys knitted by her grandmother, Sally. Macdonald always admired Sally’s spinning and knitting ability.
“I took some inspiration from my late grandmother’s knitting patterns and changed them to suit the modern-day person,” she said.
“I wanted designs that are timeless and not going to go out of fashion, that can be worn again and again and are versatile.”
Davaar and Co uses crossbred wool to create locally-made woollen jerseys.
“They tell a story and that’s what sets them apart. Plus, they are made from a 100% natural, biodegradable and renewable fibre and entirely made in New Zealand.”
“You can wear it to the gym in the morning, feed the horses when you get home, brush the hay off, jump in the car and head to town to run errands for the day and then go out for dinner that night.”
Macdonald said the history behind Davaar Station connected customers with where their product came from.
“There’s over a century of heritage intertwined within each piece and it’s an integral part of our brand to be able to tell our story in person to the customer. They like to know who is behind the brand and what’s the story behind it.”
The story began on The Plains Station, which saw the deaths of three Macdonald sons from two generations. Donald was killed in 1917 during World War I, Alick fell victim to the influenza epidemic in 1918, and Dougal was killed on a horse in 1969.
In 1939, The Plains weathered a snowstorm that lasted weeks, resulting in huge stock losses. The farm was revived when the Macdonalds began growing fescue grass seed.
The Plains was split into three properties in 1970, one being Davaar Station, passed down to Macdonald’s father, James, and mother, Fiona, in 1993.
“To be able to purchase a jersey from a family that's been working the land for that amount of time is very special,” Macdonald said.
The jerseys range in price from $359 to $389.
Looking ahead, Macdonald is set to join her partner in Canada in July to do some market research. She’ll pack a few jerseys too, which she’d love to sell there.
“What that looks like logistically yet, I’m still figuring that out, but I have a very exciting opportunity in front of me to share our story, our woollen knits and the benefits of wool with potential customers over there.”