Hapene Flax NZ Ltd literally started in Christall's grandparent's backyard with one humble flax bush.  Now, it is a thriving family business, with its own flax plantations, a beautifully refined product, and people with a passion for the most incredible plant - Harakeke.   

CHRISTALL LOWE - FOUNDER & DESIGNER
Christall was born and raised in Feilding, New Zealand, and has always had a passion for the creative arts - making gifts for family, taking Art and Design papers through High School and ultimately completing a Bachelor of Design with a major in Interior Architecture at Victoria University, Wellington.  Her life journey so far has done a complete circle, and she is now operating her design business from Feilding - the very place where Hapene was conceived.  Her enthusiasm for design continues to grow, with the exciting development of further products derived from nature's materials and inspiration, and in particular, New Zealand Flax.

THE STORY OF HAPENE
Like many great discoveries, Hapene came about purely by chance. In April 1999, Christall Rata was in her grandparent's backyard attempting to make a giftwrap for her cousin's 21st birthday present. She wanted to create something distinctive, stunning and innovative, and so she began tinkering with a Harakeke leaf.  Christall decided to put the leaf through an unusual process, and remarkably, the sacred Harakeke leaf was transformed into an object of rare beauty and Hapene was conceived....(read more)

FLAX HISTORY
Captain Cook’s ‘Father-and-son’ botany team of George and Johann Forster gave flax its scientific name:  Phormium Tenax : Phormium after the Greek for basket, and Tenax, Latin for strong.  The Maori word ‘hara’ in Harakeke is derived from Polynesian names for pandanus (eg ‘ara’ in Cook Island Maori) and ‘keke’ meaning strong or stubborn.....(read more)