“Sustainability influences all aspects of our design: the materials we work with, the styles we create, and the amount of inventory we order,” explain Alice Isles and Kiki Judd, the duo behind hej hej — the home-grown label affectionately referred to as Aotearoa’s linen lovers.

The pair, who met while studying in Dunedin, launched hej hej in 2018 after a stint in Asia. While they initially focused on colourful 100 per cent linen pieces, today their collections include silk, cashmere, and mohair knits — all fabrics that are traditionally tricky to launder at home.

For those looking to curate an eco-conscious wardrobe, the advice from hej hej is simple: “Buy good quality, classic-shaped, trans-seasonal pieces that work well with the current pieces in your wardrobe.”

When it comes to the next step in your wardrobe’s sustainability journey, Isles and Judd say to avoid over washing clothing. When you do wash, ensure you choose the correct wash cycles — something that is remarkably easy to do with Miele. “Things like chunky knits don’t need to be washed regularly; they can be aired,” they explain. “The Miele dryer has a great DryFresh function that we have tested on our mohair/wool ‘Knitty Gritty’ style, and it came out fluffy and smelling fresh.” The innovative DryFresh feature reduces the need to wash certain garments. By harnessing a lower temperature, odours disappear, so you save on time, water, and energy.