(un)dressing Utopia
RAU Textiles Research
Pushing the boundaries of textile research from AOTEAROA
Auckland University of Technology
Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau
School of Art & Design
Te Kura Toi a Hoahoa
ARONGA NUI
PURPOSE
He raranga rau tāngata,
He rangahau rau kōrero,
He rau rangahua ka puta.
Woven outcomes, binding people
and possibility through purpose
The grounding concept of this iho is raranga, to weave. The kairaranga (weaver) intertwines not only fibres, but history – binding together narratives and traditions, drawing from the rhythms, patterns, and textures of the taiao. Paired with rangahua – ranga (to search) and hua (as an output of energy) — our kaupapa centres on the gathering of people and their knowledge, stories, and methods across time and disciplines, to shape research and textile innovation.
This iho anchors us in our responsibility to hold these strands of knowledge within the broader context of contemporary textile practice. Each element holds connections to people, time, and ideas – embodying identity and belonging through textile expression. It inspires connections between people, the binding of passions, the layered complexities of research and knowledge and their intrinsic link to the taiao; gathering, weaving, and binding these diverse strands to re-enter the world transformed.
See examples of RAU projects for insight into the materials, contexts, and processes that inform our research.
TUKANGA
PROCESS
Grounded in AUT’s School of Art & Design, RAU researchers draw on material practice, textile technique, and interdisciplinary collaborative methods to expand our collective knowledge.
View RAU’s ongoing activities and events, exploring the practical dimensions of contemporary textile inquiry and innovation.
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AUT RAU Textiles Research Facility opening
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Shear Wool Power exhibition 2025
A group of second year AUT Industrial Design students presented the outcomes of their Shear Wool paper in a pop up exhibition in Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery. Now in its fourth year, the paper centres on the use of strong wool in new product designs. Traditionally used in carpets, rugs, and upholstery, strong wool makes up 80 percent of New Zealand’s total wool clip. But at present, the cost of shearing and processing strong wool is higher than its market value. The students' work demonstrates the fantastic potential this material holds across a wide range of applications and disciplines. Industry experts from along the supply chain, including Woolworks, Lisa Portas, Autex Acoustics, Wisewool, Maxwell Rodgers, Fleecegrow, Bremworth, and Rubisco, partnered with RAU to deliver the paper. The student projects were well received by the public and industry representatives, who noted the breadth of applications and the many innovative uses of strong wool as a material. -
Shear Wool Power 2025 Opening
AUT Industrial Design and RAU Textiles Research is proud to present the culmination of the Year Two Strong Wool paper, with the Shear Wool Power exhibition opening in Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery on October 22. With thanks to our Industry Partners: Woolworks, Lisa Portas, Autex Acoustics, Wisewool, Maxwell Rodgers, Fleecegrow, Bremworth, Rubisco -
School of Art & Design Research Showcase
As part of the 2025 Art & Design Research Showcase, Jyoti presented the development of RAU's foundational framework, setting the groundwork for the future of RAU Textile Research Centre. It was a fantastic opportunity to share with our colleagues, and to learn more about recent research undertaken throughout the School, as well as connect with our fellow Art & Design Research Centres, Virtual Creative Design and Vā Moana. -
Sia Ngata for Tongan Language Week
“Ko ‘etau lea, ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga – Our language is a vital strand of our Tongan culture.” Celebrating Tongan Language Week, PhD candidate, RAU researcher, and practitioner Sia Ngata shares with @AutPacific "how she grounds her walk and way as a Tongan. The idea of a “strand” resonates with her research and practice in craft and textile making, where contemporary ngatu and garment making serve as spaces to weave together knowledge, identity, and creative expression."
A group of second year AUT Industrial Design students presented the outcomes of their Shear Wool paper in a pop up exhibition in Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery.
Now in its fourth year, the paper centres on the use of strong wool in new product designs. Traditionally used in carpets, rugs, and upholstery, strong wool makes up 80 percent of New Zealand’s total wool clip. But at present, the cost of shearing and processing strong wool is higher than its market value. The students' work demonstrates the fantastic potential this material holds across a wide range of applications and disciplines. Industry experts from along the supply chain, including Woolworks, Lisa Portas, Autex Acoustics, Wisewool, Maxwell Rodgers, Fleecegrow, Bremworth, and Rubisco, partnered with RAU to deliver the paper.
The student projects were well received by the public and industry representatives, who noted the breadth of applications and the many innovative uses of strong wool as a material.
AUT Industrial Design and RAU Textiles Research is proud to present the culmination of the Year Two Strong Wool paper, with the Shear Wool Power exhibition opening in Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery on October 22. With thanks to our Industry Partners: Woolworks, Lisa Portas, Autex Acoustics, Wisewool, Maxwell Rodgers, Fleecegrow, Bremworth, Rubisco
As part of the 2025 Art & Design Research Showcase, Jyoti presented the development of RAU's foundational framework, setting the groundwork for the future of RAU Textile Research Centre. It was a fantastic opportunity to share with our colleagues, and to learn more about recent research undertaken throughout the School, as well as connect with our fellow Art & Design Research Centres, Virtual Creative Design and Vā Moana.
“Ko ‘etau lea, ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga – Our language is a vital strand of our Tongan culture.”
Celebrating Tongan Language Week, PhD candidate, RAU researcher, and practitioner Sia Ngata shares with @AutPacific "how she grounds her walk and way as a Tongan. The idea of a “strand” resonates with her research and practice in craft and textile making, where contemporary ngatu and garment making serve as spaces to weave together knowledge, identity, and creative expression."
