Surf’s up for Māori clothing line collaboration between Te Kehu Butler, Maia Gibbs and Henare Brooking

Kehu Butler has surfing in his DNA. Photo / Red Bull

Surfer Te Kehu Butler has teamed up with tā moko artists Maia Gibbs and Henare Brooking to launch a Māori clothing line. Their collection, called Tai Kehu, has been designed for global brand Quiksilver, which sells surf, snow and streetwear.

Butler says he is grateful to be part of the opportunity.

“Having this collaboration with Quiksilver is mean for me. It means so much to me to be able to give back to everyone here in Aotearoa and give them the opportunity to see the pathway of surfing, which is something I’ve always dreamed of doing to be a leader for our people,” he says.

Quiksilver photographer Billy Lee Pope describes the clothing line as an amazing combination of art and culture.

Maia Gibbs and Henare Brooking are combining their tā moko skills with a clothing line.

“It’s awesome to have a collection that helps nurture te reo Māori and the Māori culture. It was Kehu’s amazing idea that he pitched to us, and we were all on board, and we’re stoked,” Pope says.

Surfing is in Butler’s DNA because his father and grandfather were surfers, and this child of the Tauranga moana hopes this clothing line will put a smile on their faces.

“Koro, being an OG surfer from way back and an original waterman from way back, is pretty special, and I hope he is proud. Hopefully, the whole iwi feels proud, because we’re trying to put Māori on the map as watermen because we are, and I think we should be proud of being Māori and being so close to Tangaroa,” Butler says.

Surfing was once a labour of love for Te Kehukehu, and now it is a lucrative endeavour.