Manini Wear

How badly do you need a tropical island escape right now?

Imagine how it would feel to wander barefoot down a sandy path towards the ocean.

Your skin glows warm from the sun and your hair hangs loose, tinged by the salt of the water you floated in earlier in the afternoon.

Curling your toes into the warm sand, you inhale deeply, soaking in the deep greens of the enormous leaves lining the beach and the bright colours of the tropical flowers bursting from the foliage…

Do you feel it? The warmth? The freedom? The connection with nature?

We feel it too.

That’s the feeling that inspired Manini.

And that’s the feeling we want you to have every time you slip on a maxi dress or kaftan from our line, whether you’re on a tropical island or striding down a busy street.

​

Manini is owned and run by Tara Tuarae-White, and her husband Walter from their home in Rarotonga, with help from their young daughter, Te Aroa.

Tara has been in the fashion industry in Australia for over 20 years and had always wanted to start her own label.

She wanted to create an inclusive brand for every woman – with clothing that made each and every one of them feel beautiful.

The seeds of Manini began to grow during a visit to the pristine island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, with her husband, Walter.

After many years of living in Australia and visiting Aitutaki and Rarotonga, they decided they had had enough of city life and moved to Rarotonga to launch Manini from their tropical island paradise  in 2019.

They named our brand Manini after the manini two-toned reef fish found in the crystal-clear waters of the Cook Islands. It’s not the most colourful fish, but it is unique and always stands out amongst the crowd.

We love the journey Manini has taken, from launching in market stalls to being worn by women around the world.

Seeing people feel good about themselves in Manini is the fuel. It’s important to me that our clothing is created to fit all different sizes and shapes.

​