Who are McLean & Co?
McLean & Co. are Rod and Sue McLean, a couple of Kiwis with a passion for heritage, craft and living right. Together we are McLean & Co. and we specialise in weaving and stitching unique fabrics using locally sourced NZ wool.
We craft limited edition textile pieces for you, your family and friends to treasure.
Our product lines reflect a past era of sustainability and self-reliance, one which we believe many people are searching for. Our aim is to live and share our passion for sustainable skills and textiles.
We strive to conserve, use and promote our Hattersley Domestic Weaving System, share its history and protect its future and contribute artistically, socially and economically to our local and regional communities.
Our Team
Rod McLean
Rod is a craftsman weaver - he learned his craft from the previous owner of our Hattersley looms, from books and from many hours of practice, and trial and error. His previous life as a self-employed country plumber, and his life long creative endeavors (wood turning, stained glass design and construction, restoring and renovating our homes and fixing our cars) have proved invaluable for Rod's life as a weaver - he is used to working on his own, he can problem solve and fix things, he has integrity and self-reliance. Rod absolutely loves weaving, and this love is woven in the fabric he weaves.
Sue McLean
Sue is a teacher - she loves sharing her skills and knowledge and has done so her whole life, teaching students from playcentre through to Year 13 in her various teaching positions. She is also a textile artist known for her stitched garments and artworks. A love of fabrics and stitching has been part of her life since childhood. In recent years she has completed her City and Guilds Certificate in Design and Stitch, and Post Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts from the Dunedin School of Art. Sue's love of traditionally woven and stitched fabrics is evident in the fashion and home wares she creates.
We believe in what we are doing.
Sustainability and ethical practice is important to us.
We love creating textiles with meaning.
We create textiles that are kind to our planet.
Textiles that tell a story of time and place.
Textiles that tell of passion and commitment.
We love that they connect people with the handmade.
We love that our fabrics are beautiful and useful.
We love that they are treasured for their integrity.
Crafted with love.
Slow fashion - creating timeless, quality, statement pieces
Slow is a revolution, an alternative to our obsession with speed. You see more when you take things a little slower. Slow can manifest itself in any design, object, space or image that encourages a promotion of local artisans, local designers, local flavours.
Slow works to counteract fast life and the disappearance of local traditions. In a loud, crowded, crazy world, it's good for the soul to live better by living slower.
What is slow fashion?
Quite simply, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. Slow Fashion is an awareness and approach to fashion.
It means you choose to buy less, purchasing better quality, classic pieces which add value to your wardrobe. It means making conscious and thoughtful decisions about what you choose to buy.
It means making a stand for environmental issues by insisting on transparent and sustainable production processes that do not harm our Earth. It means protecting human rights by ensuring fair and ethical conditions and pay for workers.
McLean & Co. are committed to Slow Fashion. Our products are made from quality, sustainable New Zealand wool, using traditional weaving techniques and skills on our antique Hattersley looms.
Our yarn is sourced locally, and processed by businesses who recognise their responsibility to the environment and their workers. We value fair treatment of people, animals and the planet.
Slow fashion is about developing a cultural, emotional or social connection with your fashion or home wares purchase - and that is easy to do with McLean & Co products.
Our products are very limited edition, with only one or a few of each range being made, and are sold in a select number of outlets, including Crafted Artisan Gallery in Oamaru, Revology Concept Storein Wanaka, and in our online store.