What we do
We create stylish casualwear with iconic graphic designs, telling stories about places around Canada. We originally started our focus with BC, and due to popular request we decided to start working on lines for Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec.
How ningnong started
For many years Wynne Pirini had longed to see the birth place of his Grandmother, Ruth Oughton, who originated from Winnipeg Manitoba. Lauren McKee also an avid traveller, had always intended to come and live in Canada at some point in her life. So one day we just decided to pack up our bags and move to Canada, with no real plans of what we would do when we got here. Whilst residing in New Zealand, Wynne was a construction and project coordinator, and Lauren was an accountant.
We left New Zealand on January 8th 2007, and embarked upon an amazing journey through Taipei, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. Whilst sipping Banana smoothies on a beach in Vietnam, we decided that we would like to start a business in Canada. We had no idea of what we would do, or how we would go about doing it.
When we arrived in Vancouver on the 23rd of March 2007, we were not disappointed. We quickly discovered the grand beauty of British Columbia and the warmth of its people. However, Lauren noticed that there were no stylish tourist t-shirts available...well, not ones that we'd be caught dead in anyway.
So about a month after we arrived, we decided that we were going to start a business creating fashionable t-shirts based on iconic themes and locations around Canada. Designer t-shirts that tourists and locals would be proud to wear, because they looked great, and they told powerful stories about the places they cherished, and called home.
The quirky name
Ningnong is a rugged and beautiful surf break just North of Wellington, in New Zealand. ningnong is also a term used to describe an easy-going goof. Both terms remind us of our original 'home' that we carry with us always.
How do you pronounce 'ningnong'? It sounds like 'pingpong' except you replace the p's with n's.
Talk to us
If you'd like to chat with us then you can email us at info@ningnong.ca, or phone 604-2882189. Or you can interact with us on our social networking page.
Cheers
Wynne and Lauren