Solvej swing gets Kardashian seal of approval
The Kardashian sisters have one of the largest social media followings in the world so when they decide they like your product and talk about it, you can be sure it will be noticed.
This is what happened to New Zealand brand Solvej just before Christmas. Owner Jenny Etherington received an email from Kourtney Kardashian’s executive assistant telling her Kourtney was a fan of their high-end handmade children’s swings and wanted to include them as a recommendation in her holiday gift guide.
From small-town New Zealand to glossy Los Angeles, Etherington can’t begin to comprehend how their products ended up on the radar of Kourtney Kardashian, who purchased two swings a few years ago.
“It’s very exciting,” she says. “It’s kind of crazy to think when we are here in small rural Matiere sewing our swings that they may end up in amazing homes in LA, like Kourtney Kardashian’s.”
The gift guide is something Kourtney and her sisters do annually, sharing products they love on their personal apps and websites.
“The feedback to her post so far has been wonderful. It’s heart-warming to see how excited our customers and friends are for us. Reactions from locals in our town have been particularly cool―it turns out many never knew about us and they find it really exciting to know that something made in our small unassuming village is even known overseas or by a celebrity!” she laughs.
Kourtney is known for her strong stance around supporting ethically produced, eco-friendly products.
The Scandinavian-style Solvej swings are sustainably made from wood (recycled matai where possible) and a speciality canvas and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Etherington and her husband Thomas Mortimer, a cabinet-maker by trade, hand-craft the swings at their Matiere headquarters. Last year they produced 2,000 swings.