Emily Cooper has been caring for some unusual pets over the summer.
Appropriately, the co-founder of Waikouaiti-based business Silkbody found herself rearing silkworms.
Despite 15 years of selling silk products, she had never come across any silkworms in New Zealand.
Now, thanks to the holiday hobby, it has put into perspective the effort required to produce the several hundred cocoons needed to make one Silkbody garment.
Before Christmas, Ms Cooper had an opportunity to source some silkworms from a science teacher in Auckland.