03/11/2024
Kia oraaa, *long read ahead*
Recently I have been seeing LOTS of people tag and openly talk on social media about copying my handmade bears and making them to sell etc.... which now id like to share a story behind my
'Brai Brai Bears' (the handmade bears I make and my WHY).
Up until we moved country (2.5months ago) it had been 2.5yrs since I touched my passed away son, Braidons, room, all his clothes were still folded away in his drawers and hanging in his wardrobe and this year when I made the decision to move country I decided I wasn't going to pack his clothes into storage I wanted to create something with them and take them everywhere with us... I thought about blankets, and I thought about jackets to wear but something didn't seem right to do that, then one day the bears came to mind so I practiced with my Māori designed fabric and I couldn't get over how ADORABLE these bears were so I decided that that was it, I was making bears with my son's clothes!!
In the meantime I had lots of customers turning up to purchase my other garments and EVERYONE that came over had spotted my bears & LOVED them, I had sold ×50bears in less than 24hrs, so not only did I practice making heaps of bears but I felt ready to cut my son's clothes up to make his bears and I did 🤍
then I wanted a name just for him and all the bears I make as they have a different stor to Storm Violet Apparel that honors my son and its my chance to speak about him so I was thinking of a name, then in April I got Braidons phone back from the coroner and when I turned his phone on a message had popped up from one of his friends saying
"I miss you Brai Brai"...
and I know in my heart and wairua that that was meant to be the names of the bears 💕
So this is his story too. And the way I channel my grief of losing my 17yr old son and honor him, and speak about him as many times as I can through personal conversations and through the bears🤍
Side note: when Braidon was born I brought him home in a little Bear suit!!!! I don't believe in coincidences so I know he guides me through this 🤍
So if you'd like to copy my idea of the bears and make the same things then by all means be sure you're doing it for the right reasons 🤍
Nga mihi (thank you) for reading my story x