When lockdown hit, Chris Larcombe was left wondering what he could do to stay in business. After considering the large demand for face masks, he founded Kind Face, a company that has hand cut and hand sewn 15,500 face masks over the past few years.
But it hasn’t stopped there. Kind Face has branched out into making products that improve people’s sleep and wellbeing, selling goods like weighted eye masks and pillows. Larcombe also values the environment, and ensures that all of Kind Face’s products are okay for the planet.
Building Kind Face
When Kind Face was first producing face masks, Larcombe liked that they were selling a product which was helping people out. The problem was that these products were only in demand because of a worldwide pandemic, and, being concerned for people’s health and wellbeing during such trying times, Larcombe also wanted to help people lower their stress.
From this, Kind Face started producing wheat bags and weighted eye masks, two products designed to help people sleep. Things have only grown from there.
Larcombe additionally cares for the wellbeing of the planet. All of Kind Face’s products are environmentally-friendly, with Larcombe doing the best he can to minimise any negative effects that his products might have on the climate.
Because of this strictly sustainable approach, Larcombe believes that there are a lot of future opportunities to grow Kind Face since the market for environmentally-friendly products is steadily growing every year.
“I think the future holds a lot of opportunity and a lot of potential. There is a shift towards considered decision-making, people choosing ethical and environmentally responsible products, and that’s us.”
Investing back into New Zealand
Larcombe places importance on being NZ made. He sources and uses local materials and resources, helping other New Zealand businesses.
“All the different materials that we have are all sourced through our New Zealand specialists. The fabric supplier, the wool engineers, the labels are local. The packaging is local where it can be. So it’s all those layers of New Zealand that we’re obviously integrating into our manufacturing.”
“By buying New Zealand made, you’re actually investing back into New Zealand.”
