ABOUT
ABOUT
Ethan Wairau is an independent creative working in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia. With a Bachelor in Architecture and experience working in the home furnishings industry, Ethan discovered his passion and talent through visual merchandising and styling on editorial style interior shoots. He specialises in working with brands and designers to build out their world and create atmospheric vignettes and compositions. Executing briefs in both still-life or product led imagery and physical spaces, he collaborates with and for creatives and clients to bring life and narrative to their work. Open and accepting a versatile range of projects and briefs, Ethan is able to quickly and instinctively bring to life his concepts.
CV
OUR WORLD
Tēnā koutou - everybody welcome
The name ‘Wai’ stems from Ethan’s Māori roots. Wai is an abbreviation of Wairau, which translated meaning is 'many waters’, ‘abundant waters’ or ‘waters gathered by a net’, referring to the myriad of streams and braided rivers in the namesake Wairau Valley. It can also relate to spiritual concepts, through wairua, meaning soul or spirit.
A reference to the cyclical and fluid nature of style and water, Wai reflects the multi-faceted and ever changing platform Ethan hopes to build. The logo was designed by local graphic designer, Sharna Jones and follows this derived meaning in its fluid form as well as a subtle reference to our name // Wai ~Y
ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE
Ethan Wairau acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the owners of the land in which I work, live and create, where sovereignty was never ceded. I pay my respect to their elders - past and emerging. I stand in solidarity with their ongoing resistance against colonisation.
All rights reserved © 2026, Ethan Wairau