Event Design Meets The Outdoors: Kathmandu x Olympic Team NZ
When Kathmandu joined forces with the New Zealand Olympic Team, it wasn’t just a partnership announcement—it was a powerful moment for two iconic Kiwi brands to come together and celebrate their shared values: resilience, exploration, and excellence.
The launch marked the beginning of Kathmandu becoming the official apparel partner for New Zealand’s Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams, with a commitment to high-performance gear and sustainability for the athletes representing Aotearoa. It was a pretty big deal—and it needed an environment to match.
From Concept to Cohesive Experience
This was one of those “we need it done yesterday” projects—and we were so here for it.
With less than two weeks until the confidential reveal, The Little Hire Company was brought on to design a full visual suite for the launch event at Kathmandu’s Christchurch HQ.
Our job? Event design in its most creative form: dreaming, concepting, mock-ups, and a fully immersive design that brought the outdoors indoors—honouring both the adventure roots of Kathmandu and the national pride of the Olympic Team NZ.
As a West Coast girl myself, leaning into the rugged beauty of the South Island came naturally. We used 140 native plants, shrubs, and trees—including nods to the iconic silver fern—to create a lush, high-impact environment throughout Kathmandu’s space. Think: fibreglass boulders, moss-covered rocks, tōtara, toe toe, and wild textures that felt like a stroll through Fiordland.
Feature 1: The Stage Area
Our Brooklyn Sofas took centre stage—literally—as the hero pieces for the speaker area. Luxe yet grounded, they offered an elevated (and very comfortable) perch for key announcements. We layered the look with matching coffee tables and side tables.
This design zone showed how event planning isn’t just about function—it’s about vibe, atmosphere, and thoughtful brand alignment.
Feature 2: Brand Activation Through the Years
Our second design moment? A visual storytelling zone that walked guests through the evolution of Kathmandu gear and past Olympic NZ uniforms—styled to absolute perfection.
Each piece was displayed on mannequins atop our clear acrylic plinths, with varying heights for depth and flow.
We layered moss, rocks, and shrubs around the base and up the sides of the plinths for a wild, organic feel. Each item came with a custom vinyl description for a mini history lesson—brand activation meets museum moment.
From concept to execution, every design detail was planned with guest flow, photo ops, and storytelling in mind—because in event planning, the little moments are what people remember.
Turning HQ Into a Walking Rainforest
Our team was on-site at dawn for pack-in—and the transformation was instant magic. As Kathmandu staff arrived for work, we overheard a lot of “Oh my god, this is incredible!” and “this is INSANE!” (along with disbelief)... which is exactly what we were going for.
It was more than just a pretty setup—it was an immersive, story-led environment that honoured the brief while elevating the brand and the moment.
“We had the best morning and the feedback has been amazing, alongside the desired media coverage.
You guys are the best and we absolutely couldn’t have delivered the level of event we did without you!! Thank you.”
— Amelia Williams, Commercial Partnerships
Why Brands Hire Us for Event Planning
This is what we do. We work with brands and businesses to create bold, engaging, event design experiences—whether it’s a confidential media launch, a public activation, or a high-profile partnership moment like this one.
The difference? We bring design and marketing brains to the table. Your event isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a brand touchpoint. And we design with that in mind.
So if your next event needs more than some balloons and a trestle table…
Let’s talk. We’ll bring the style, the structure, and the strategy to make your event unforgettable.
