Iconic Pacific fashion house opens first store in Aotearoa

Sāmoa’s popular clothing line, Eveni Pacific, has finally made its way to Aotearoa, New Zealand.

On Monday, the company marked its grand opening in Auckland with its first store near the airport.

Eveni Pacific’s Chief Executive Officer, Le afioga ia Laauli Hansell, was happy to finally bring his brand to Aotearoa.

“Everyone's happy, and it's good to finally open the doors to customers.

“It's been a long time coming for this to happen but we feel that now is the time to bring the Eveni brand to New Zealand and we're hoping to reach out to not only our old customers from Sāmoa but the rest of our Pacific Island friends.”

Eveni was established in Sāmoa in 1929 by founding member Irving ‘Eveni’ Carruthers of Vailima.

Eveni Pacific CEO Le afioga ia Laauli Hansell [second from left] and team at Auckland store. Photo/PMN News/Sariah Magaoa

Its original business name was I.H. Carruthers Ltd.

Over the years Carruthers adopted ‘Eveni Carruthers’ as its main store brand and has become one of the leading retailers of fabrics, uniforms, sporting goods and Polynesian-inspired apparel. The blending of Polynesian and Sāmoan motifs.

The company is celebrating 95 years of operation since its founding, and Hansell says expanding internationally has always been in the plans.

“It's always been a plan for the directors and the management of the Eveni to expand into other parts of the world, which we have already done through our branch in American Sāmoa.

“But we feel that New Zealand is a big step into opening up to other parts of the world.

“We have a few plans for elsewhere in the world, but for the time being, New Zealand, we feel is the next big step for us.

“And so we're hoping that in the next five years, we'll get ourselves established in New Zealand and hopefully elsewhere in the world, and we're gearing up to celebrate our 100 years of being in business.

One customer at the official opening of the store yesterday said, “It's stunning. You know, the colours, the patterns, everything just stands out. We're just here to find something unique, which is something you rarely find around here, especially in New Zealand. So it's good, and it's very close to home.

Another customer said, “I'm happy that this shop is here and can cater to our people especially have options because we always go to Sāmoa to get to Eveni.

“If you don't go to Sāmoa, you don't get this variety of goods. So yeah, it was a good opportunity for us, a good chance for us to get some of these selections here and different kinds.

“Especially me as a Matai as a family, I always prefer to wear this. I'm not going to wear a T-shirt, but I always wear the ie faitaga and the shirt as a Matai in the ula fala to represent our culture. I'm proud of Sāmoa.”

Eveni’s iconic Pacific apparel has been worn by national teams such as Manu Sāmoa and Pacific pageant queens over the years, including Moemoana Schwenke, former Miss Sāmoa and reigning Miss Pacific Islands.

"It's good to finally open the doors to customers," says Eveni Pacific CEO Laauli Hansell. Photo/PMN News/Sariah Magaoa

Eveni Pacific has a wide range of fashion and accessories, from casual to formal wear, for individuals or the entire family.

It is also available in various styles and sizes, catering to Pacific consumers.

Hansell is inviting Kiwis to visit and shop at their new store in Tāmaki Makaurau.

“Eveni it's always been about serving the people as we started in Samoa and … we invite everyone to come whatever you have now we're in the festive season.

“If you're looking for something to complement your personality, we have a huge variety of colors, designs, and sizes, for men, women, and children.

“I think we will be able to find something to complement your personality.

“As we head into the festive season, if you're gearing up for a wedding, birthday or whatever the case might be, we'll find something for you.”

Visit https://evenipacific.co.nz/ for more information.