Our Story

CXNT was born from non-conformity in a society that constantly demands conformity.

Every day, people are judged before they are known. Judged by how they dress. Judged by how they look. Judged by where they come from. Judged by whether they fit somebody else's idea of what is acceptable, successful, intelligent, or worthy.

But appearances do not tell a person's story.

The person wearing a suit is not automatically smarter than the person wearing a hoodie. The person with tattoos is not automatically less capable than the person without them. The next great entrepreneur, artist, scientist, leader, or innovator may look nothing like the image society expects them to be.

The cure for cancer could be discovered by someone who doesn't fit your mould of what a scientist should look like.

These prejudices exist everywhere. They are amplified when you are a minority. They are amplified again when you don't fit the stereotypes attached to that minority. For Māori, that can mean being judged by wider society while also being told you are not "Māori enough" by others. Many people live between worlds, never fully accepted by either.

CXNT comes from that frustration.

It comes from the anger of being placed in a box.

It comes from the rebellion of refusing to stay there.

CXNT is not about fitting in. It is not about asking permission. It is not about meeting somebody else's expectations.

It is about individuality.

It is about identity.

It is about wearing what represents you, not what makes other people comfortable.

Our tartans represent heritage. Our characters represent different walks of life. Our collections represent the freedom to be yourself.

Because nobody else has the right to define who you are.

Only you do. Be a CXNT!