Hello Yank friends,

I hope this finds you enjoying the the calm moments in between the 'crazy' as the holiday rush floods in. If you are like me you will be looking forward to getting this work year over the hump ...and taking a bit of time to enjoy family and friends.

As the founder of Yank I have been committed to transparency from the beginning, so I wanted to share an update on the current production journey. Yank garments have been proudly made in New Zealand since 2019, celebrating that local craftsmanship and the sustainable ethos. However, there has been an unrecoverable recent challenge with domestic manufacturing. New Zealand's last fabric printer capable of applying print directly to merino closed their doors. This closure has made it impossible to continue creating full coverage colourful prints.

From the start, I set out to create garments that truly ticked all the boxes. I was so tired of my favorite pieces wearing out way too quickly, leaving me frustrated and searching for replacements. That's why after spending months researching, I dove headfirst into Nuyarn© performance fabrics, harnessing every benefit they offer: buttery soft, superior thermo-regulation, moisture-wicking magic, durability that stands up to real adventures, and that sustainable edge from premium merino wool. But I didn't stop there—I wanted big, fun, playful colors that pop and bring joy to your wardrobe, versatile layers that transition seamlessly from urban errands to rugged trails, and low-maintenance comfort that feels effortless every time you pull them on. Yank is all about delivering that complete package, so you can focus on living boldly without the hassle.

Play clothes made for grown ups.

Since launching, Yank has grown faster than I had imagined possible. It is really amazing to know that there are collectors all over New Zealand, as well as the world. I feel very fortunate that I have found a community of like minded people who share a love for adventuring in colourful merino play clothes. For Yank to move forward making garments that provide any less than ALL of these premium features would be a deal breaker for my brand.

The good news? I have been communicating with my amazing fabric supplier overseas, where I've long sourced all of the amazing merino fabrics. Having worn my own performance merino garments practically every day for the past 6+ years, I have a strong understanding of the quality that comes with the fabric alone. By shifting production to their facilities I will be able to continue bringing full colour prints to the merino market. Their facilities have been specializing in manufacturing performance merino garments since their launch creating the world's first performance merino yarns. I anticipate potential for production to have even higher quality finishes while upholding the standards for ethical practices.

That said, this transition brings a few unknowns along with some new dynamics—while producing in New Zealand allowed me to pay incrementally as collections came together, offshore manufacturing means committing to large upfront payment for the full collections. It's a much bigger financial step.

I have drawings of proposed collections ready that build on Yank's colorful, adventure-ready vibe. Including a revisit to one of my absolute favourite best sellers. If there is enough interest from you for me to put together a discussion forum, this could aid my efforts as I work through how to move forward bring fresh designs to you. I've always loved bouncing ideas off my online community—like sharing early sketches of new prints and colors to get your real-time response. This conversation is about making a much bigger leap. It will be discussing fund raising, potential pre-sales... and to be totally honest having a bit of external support noting that I am not a team of people behind the scenes. It is only me.. and I have many decisions to make on behalf of anyone/everyone who is interested in colourful Yank merino continuing to be available.

New Zealand remains the heart of Yank, and this move is about ensuring I can continue delivering playful, adventure-ready clothing you love. For those who've followed primarily for the NZ-made status, now is the time to grab what is available online—once the current collections sell out, that will mark the end of the NZ-print/cut/sewn Yank garments.

Please note: this change only applies to clothing; all Yank Socks will stay proudly grown, designed, and knitted in New Zealand.

I value your thoughts—reply with any questions, feedback, or even ideas on those potential pre-sale collections. Please consider the weight of this decision if you feel let down that another NZ brand is 'selling out'. From my heart this is about a New Zealand brand being able to continue living on without having to compromise on any of the reason why it started.

Wishing everyone a fabulous week.✨

Much appreciation,

Belinda

Founder, Yank