At SilkLiving our designs are inspired by our love of the outdoors, and our desire to enjoy NZ’s natural beauty in 100% natural clothing.  In the late 1990’s most high-performance outdoor wear meant man-made fabrics.  Our mission was to develop fabrics to perform at least as well - if not better - than fabricated material using the fibres already provided by nature.  Enter silk!

When it comes to silk production, China is the undisputed global leader – unsurprisingly since China is where the first silk was discovered, more than 5,000 years ago.  Originally held as the preserve of royalty, inevitably word got out and silk became a highly sought after fibre by all.  For millennia, silk has been held in the highest regard for its strength, durability and breathability, not to mention its supreme softness and comfort to wear.  And it is acknowledged throughout the world that the very best silk continues to be produced in its nation of origin.

From our very beginning, SilkLiving's founders recognized the superiority of Chinese silk. They sought and developed an understanding with a team who continue to be our partners today – over 25 years later.  Our long-term relationship with these partners provides the best of both worlds; stunning NZ design and superb Chinese craftsmanship.  It’s no wonder our brand is loved by customers from all four corners of the world.

Our production partners are also small businesses, employing real people who work hard to put a roof over their children’s heads and food on the table.  We visit them regularly to see the quality craftsmanship and working conditions first-hand, and to ensure our personal relationships remain genuine and strong.  Together, we have developed the unique fabric blends that are proprietary to SilkLiving.  It is these that keep our products head and shoulders above those of our competitors.

Our pieces reflect a unique mix of local innovation and superior global production; our proprietary fabrics rival the technical qualities of any other natural or man-made fabrics, and our styles stand the test of time.  Many of today’s best-selling customer favourites are still those that were a part of our first ever production run almost 25 years ago.