In this second instalment, we look more closely at what that identity means in practice: how it reflects the Kaiwaka of today, how real-world testing has shaped the latest gear, and what long-standing customers can expect from this launch.
A clearer reflection of who Kaiwaka is today
The new Kaiwaka identity reflects a family-owned business that remains firmly grounded in farming, but shaped by 50 years of learning and real-world experience.
Today, Kaiwaka is a more focused, more purposeful brand than it was even a decade ago. Products are designed through direct collaboration with farmers, tested in real conditions and refined using insights from a global trialist network and in-house repairs programme. The updated identity reflects that process more clearly than ever. It puts function, performance and longevity at the forefront 鈥� because that's what matters most to the people wearing the gear.
Looking ahead, the direction is a natural extension of that approach. The new identity provides a clearer platform to carry Kaiwaka forward into the next 200 seasons. Modern farming places greater demands on both people and clothing. Longer days, more varied conditions and increasingly complex systems require gear that offers protection, comfort, mobility and breathability without compromise.
"Rather than chasing trends, it allows us to stay focused on doing what we've always done, just better and more clearly.听The new Kaiwaka identity reflects our commitment to evolving alongside those needs, while remaining firmly grounded in our farmer-first philosophy."
Designed in the field, not just on the drawing board
Real-world testing has been central to the development of the Stormforce range and has influenced almost every element of the final design.
Instead of relying solely on controlled environments, the gear was tested by farmers within Kaiwaka's global trialist network, working in their own conditions, on their own farms and across full seasons of use. The feedback captured the realities of long days, repeated wear, unpredictable weather and the differing demands of various farming systems.
Trialists provided regular, practical updates 鈥� not just on how the gear looked or felt when new, but how it performed over time. This surfaced issues that only emerge with sustained use: how jackets regulate temperature during physical work, how closures function with cold or wet hands, how pockets operate while moving, and where garments experience the greatest wear.
Testing took place across a wide range of regions and operations, with farmers submitting feedback every four to six weeks. Designs were adjusted in real time, retested and refined. No laboratory can fully replicate what a working farmer puts their gear through.
Alongside the trial network, Kaiwaka's repairs department 鈥� 鈥� played a vital role. By analysing years of returned garments, the team identified recurring stress points such as stretched straps, leg seam fatigue and abrasion zones. These insights directly informed design improvements in the new Stormforce range.听
"Every stitch in the new Stormforce reflects that real world data: not theory, but lived experience."
What long-time customers will notice
For long-standing Kaiwaka customers, the most important thing to notice is what hasn't changed.
The core foundations remain: protection, durability and reliability. The gear still delivers the performance farmers have trusted for years.
What customers may notice next are the refinements 鈥� subtle improvements that make a long day more comfortable, tasks easier and movement more natural. These are not headline-grabbing changes, but practical enhancements that reveal their value once work begins.
Importantly, these refinements are not about reinventing Kaiwaka. They are about improving the everyday experience, guided by decades of customer feedback and ongoing collaboration with those who wear the gear daily.
This launch marks an evolution, not a departure, ensuring Kaiwaka continues to work as hard as the farmers it serves, season after season.
Discover the latest innovations from Kaiwaka and explore the new Stormforce range built for the realities of modern farming.
