Our Story

Tēnā koutou katoa, 
Ko Puketapu me Paekowhai ōku maunga.
Ko Ngaruroro me Whangaehu ōku awa.
Ko Takitimu me Kurahaupō ōku waka.
Ko Ngāti Hinemanu, ko Ngāwairiki me Ngati Kahungunu ki Heretaunga ōku iwi.
Ko Omahu me Kauangaroa ōku marae.
Ko Clare Schuster āhau.
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Clare Schuster in KIHI TOI contemporary bridal korowai Te Tuatahi. With her self-designed wedding dress made out of a burgundy red dress and a white lace skirt, flax belt. Holding a photo of her Dad on her wedding day.Kia ora!

   My name is Clare Schuster.
Ko wai au? (Who am I?)
I wear many pōtae (hats) but the top 4 that come to mind are...
⭐️   An eco conscious wife and Māmā of 4 based in Hastings, Hawkes Bay
⭐️   Founder and Creativity Specialist of KIHI TOI
⭐️   An e-commerce graduate and a serial learner - I love learning!
⭐️   Currently on my own Māoritanga reclamation and healing process.
     
    Āe! (Yes!) I am a one wahine band at this stage with a background in both the fine and creative arts, choreography and performance in dance and kapa haka and love to tutu with all sorts of art mediums including digital.
    My mission is to use my creative gifts to create unique pieces that aim to boost confidence, create a connection, a belonging and to embrace identity. I am drawn to highlighting the beauty in our differences, what makes us each unique from one another and being unapologetically ourselves. We hold so much power and beauty in that but also in unity, by sharing and growing together as well.

    What does KIHI TOI mean?

    The idea behind KIHI TOI began during my wedding preparation and the early healing process of my Dad's passing. My Dad is the backbone and inspiration behind KIHI TOI and my greatest supporter. KIHI TOI pronounced 'Kih | He | Toy' is Māori meaning 'Art Kiss' or 'Kiss Art' (depending on which way you look at it. Technically it is backwards, like me). It is a play on my Dad's cheeky humour.

    Where did this journey begin?

    Te Tuatahi KIHI TOI contemporary Māori bridal korowai / cloak made of harakeke (flax), white silk, white lace with white beads, white feathers and white cord
    The first creation of KIHI TOI was called 'Te Tuatahi'. A contemporary Māori bridal taonga (pictured above) that I had designed and fused by hand in December 2018 and I still have hung on my bedroom wall on full display to this day.
    We had a very limited budget for our wedding and I wasn't able to afford anything that I really liked. So I decided to hand fuse, chop and change and make it myself (dress included).
    The feeling I had, the confidence I felt when I wore my bridal taonga; I wanted to attempt to share this with others on their special day(s) by offering custom contemporary taonga to start with.
    I look forward to working with you and sharing more of my pakihi (business) journey with you all. 
    Ngā mihi, Clare Schuster.

     

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