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When
you think of New Zealand fashion, coconut shells, paua
brief's and shell jumpers are not common place but thanks to
the Style Pasifika Show at the Inaugural L'Oreal Fashion
Week in 2001, that has changed.
Style
Pasifika or Pacific Fashion was one of the first shows to
officially kick off the event last October.
Three
young Maori and Polynesian designers Lanita Ririnui
(M.O.K.O), Susan David (Divad) and Charleen Oliver (Oliver)
led the 20 minute show with their garments complimented by a
showcase of Maori and Pacific music and culture.
Style
Pasifika is not a new concept. It originated back in 1992
and was held as part of the Auckland City Council's Pasifika
Day Festival. The aim of the festival is to celebrate
Pacific cultures and its people in Auckland. The show now
has taken on its own identity and helped launched the
careers of several Polynesian fashion designers including
Susan David and Charleen Oliver who are both past Supreme
Award Winners.
Susan
David said she was excited about being involved with the
show and wanted to use it as an opportunity for
International exposure.
Charleen
Oliver ultimately wants to move into the American and
European markets and saw it as a stepping-stone in that
direction.
"We
believe it is vital for Maori and Pacific designers to get
the opportunity to show their work in an international
context, which is what L'Oreal New Zealand Fashion Week is,"
said Charmayne Te Nana from Tradenz who helped sponsor and
support the Fashion Week.
"The
Pacific influences infuse design in New Zealand, but it is
much rarer to actually have the Maori and Pacific designers
themselves showing their own work and their unique urban
interpretation of the designs and material which are so much
a part of their culture" said Te Nana.
L'Oreal
New Zealand Fashion Week event organiser, Pieter Stewart,
said that the inclusion of Style Pasifika was an important
opportunity to highlight the uniqueness of New Zealand's
culture.
Produced
and Directed by Tongan Stan Wolfgramm, the fashion
extravaganza created a welcome and unique introduction to
the Pacific for all visiting buyers, journalists and guests
at the show.
Wolfgramm said "This show makes us
stand out and different from any other fashion show in the world and
especially from Australia."
But
he said it almost didn't happen.
"We
spoke to a lot of sponsors but they all said no, so we made
a last minute approach to Westfield New Zealand. Their
mandate is about retail fashion and families so we pushed
the Pacific family image thing and they said
yes."
Wolfgramm
said "We were very lucky because without them, there
wouldn't be a show."
Westfield
New Zealand is the owner of Westfield Shopping-towns, the
largest portfolio of shopping centres in New Zealand with
major fashion retailers throughout their shopping
centres.
"This
sponsorship allows Westfield to support fresh New Zealand
fashion and design talent and encourage the development of
the local fashion industry," said Director of Westfield New
Zealand, Mr John Widdup.
He said "It is great that Westfield has agreed to support Style
Pasifika and consequently provide the platform on which we can
celebrate this significant part of our
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