“women's work, wearable heritage, living memory threaded with aroha.”
Handcrafted crochet bags inspired by Pacific heritage and sustainability
Esther Cooper – Crochet Artist & Designer
Tangata O Te Moana Nui-a-Kiwa | Upcycled T‑Shirt Yarn | Wearable Pacific Heritage
Esther Cooper, an Aotearoa Māori and Cook Islands Māori creative, crochets bags and totes out of colourful fabrics wherever possible utlising sustainable, recycled, and upcycled t‑shirt material. Through her designs, she explores her heritage as Tangata O Te Moana Nui-a-Kiwa (an indigenous person of the Pacific), drawing on vibrant colourways that reflect the moana, and the flora and sea-life of the Pacific region. She often adorns her work with shells, adding a tactile whisper of the shore.
Every bag is handmade, unique, and one of a kind, crafted with aroha. Esther's crochet is her way of reconnecting with the women in her family who passed down the art, not just as an expression of love, but as a practice of making do with materials that were at hand and readily available. Their wisdom proved that there is beauty and artisanship in these creations, bringing familiarity and comfort to those who buy them.
In Esther's hands, these bags become living memory and connection to heritage, embodying the vibrancy of Pacific cultures, where utility and fashion can coexist, creating things to treasure and keep.
Discover Esther Cooper exclusively at Oyster & Moon – where upcycled threads become heirloom treasures, and every tote carries the spirit of Te Moana Nui-a-Kiwa.
Artist Origins
| Ethnicity | Māori, Cook Island Māori |
|---|---|
| Tribe/Iwi | Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Amuri, Arorangi |