Koru

The Māori word Koru refers to the Silver Fern, a species native to New Zealand. Its leaf underside has a silvery-white surface that appears to glow under moonlight. When Māori hunters traveled at night, they would bend back silver fern leaves to mark the path home. For the Māori, the Silver Fern is regarded as a sacred symbol. It is also widely recognized as a national emblem of New Zealand and as the emblem of the country’s national rugby team, the All Blacks.

In 1998, a 23-year-old New Zealand student named Ruben lost his life in the Alishan mountains of Taiwan. The tragedy drew widespread public attention at the time. After discovering that his son was missing, Ruben’s father flew to Taiwan alone to search for him.
Unable to speak the language, he faced obstacle after obstacle in his search. In desperation, he even stood outside the Presidential Office carrying a photo of Ruben and asking for help. Although he did not meet the president in person, his actions drew the attention of the authorities, who formed a special task force to assist in the search. After media coverage spread, support also began pouring in from people across Taiwan.

Throughout the long search-and-rescue process, even though they did not share a common language, many people offered Ruben’s father encouragement and care, treating him like family. That warmth gave him comfort and strength at a time when he was close to breaking down.

In the end, he was unable to become the Silver Fern that could guide his son Ruben home to New Zealand. Yet through that journey, he formed deep bonds with the people of Taiwan. Taiwan became his second home, and his heart found a sense of belonging there.
Where the heart belongs, there is home. In his heart, he had already brought Ruben home.

#FLIPPOS Socks Design
Koru uses the silvery-white tone of the Silver Fern’s underside as its main color, paired with FLIPPOS’ classic Tā Moko design language. Deep grey, light grey, and ivory are used to create dimension within a softer tonal palette. In fact, Silver Fern-inspired imagery can be found throughout New Zealand and is also often incorporated into traditional Māori tattoo design.
The fan-like motif at the top and the asymmetrical contrasting tones on both sides are designed to highlight the fern-inspired pattern. After all, a sacred symbol in Māori culture must appear at the highest point of the design to express reverence and respect.

When FLIPPOS Socks are flipped down, the swirling lines echo the Māori tradition of turning over Silver Fern leaves at night so that their glowing undersides can help guide the way home. Although the real-life story of Ruben’s father did not end in the way he had hoped, it carried a deeper meaning on another level. It transformed his own life and, in doing so, left an enduring inspiration for others.