The biisoo Story

Rebekah Davies-Patrick was dreaming of designing her own children’s-wear range, but she couldn’t narrow down a product. When she entered a guess-how-many-balls-of-wool-in-the-shopping-trolley contest at Spotlight, she told herself, “If I win this, I’ll do something in knitwear.”

Sure enough, Rebekah won. And just like that, biisoo was born. Rebekah’s idea was to create a luxury brand of baby woollies that combined vintage charm with contemporary style. She started by collecting vintage patterns and then modifying them to give the garments a modern edge. She found local knitting fanatics – most of them mothers and grandmothers – to make her samples.
Hand-knitting is a key part of what makes biisoo special. “It takes so much time to make one item – hours. The concept of a person putting that time and care into one garment, to me, it feels a bit more human.”

The hand-made touch means each garment is slightly different. Rebekah hopes that the biisoo range of baby and toddler woollens will be the kind of gifts that can be handed down from generation to generation.




“I have some of the baby clothes that my grandmother wore. I like the idea that special items can become part of a family’s heritage,” Rebekah says.

Because she intends these garments to have a long lifetime, Rebekah has been scrupulous in her choice of materials. She has sourced organic New Zealand and Australian merino wool, which is dyed with low-impact, metal-free dyes. The garments are finished with 100% silk filament ribbon, leather and vintage mother of pearl buttons.

There are three collections in the biisoo range. The Baby Layettes Collection consists of first-year essentials like matinee jackets, vests, hats, booties, shawls and blankets. The Play Collection is outdoor wear for busy babies and toddlers comprising of adorable hats and mittens.

The Limited Edition collection is launched each year in March and includes special new designs that are available for one year only.

Rebekah has big plans for biisoo. She will launch an online store and look for a select few New Zealand retailers this year before launching the brand on the international market.

Rebekah’s long-term thinking includes giving back. She has committed a percentage of biisoo’s profits for charity. She has earmarked three organisations that protect and improve children’s lives: Save the Children, Women’s Refuge NZ and Child Helpline International.

For further information, please visit biisoo.com.