Pacific Fusion Fashion Show returns for 2021 in December. Image by EMedia NZ.
Update 26th October: Pacific Fusion Fashion Show 2021 has been postponed until early 2022 with a new date to be confirmed in coming weeks.
Making a welcome return to the fashion calendar is the celebrated Pacific Fusion Fashion Show (PFFS) which will take to the runway in South Auckland on Saturday 4th December 2021. Ten emerging and established designers will showcase their creativity in an exciting show that is not to be missed.
Last year saw the event livestream a digital presentation from Wellington in place of it’s usual runway way but this year PFFS will return to it’s South Auckland roots with a live event in Papatoetoe. St George Street itself will be the runway for a spectacular array of designs from Pasifika and indigenous talent.
“We have always been a proud South Auckland hosted event. From East Tamaki, Otara, Mangere Bridge, Manukau and this year old Papatoetoe,” says Pacific Fusion Fashion Show Founder and director Nora Swann. “We are looking forward to bringing our event to life and hosting this year’s show on the actual road, St George Street.”
“Auckland Council and Auckland Transport have been really helpful in supporting my team with this year’s location as well as Panuku and the Otara Papatoetoe Local Board. My business also moved into old Papatoetoe earlier on this year so it has been great connecting with the business community here and being able to highlight some of the retailers not in only in our marketing campaign but also as the backdrop for this year’s event.”
While Covid has postponed or cancelled a range of events this year, PFFS is determined to go ahead if at all possible in late 2021 while adhering to Alert Level protocols in place at the time. A backup date has been scheduled in for January if a December show isn’t possible.
“The Pacific fashion community (fashion designers, models and everyone working behind the scenes) were both relieved and happy to hear that we had decided to go ahead,” adds Nora Swann. “It is actually giving everyone something to look forward to, especially us in Auckland, who have been in weeks of lockdown. We’re hopeful that because our event is in early December that government would’ve implemented the necessary Covid-19/Delta safety measures that will both allow our event to go ahead and give the community the confidence to attend.”
Each PFFS event has had a different theme and this year’s event theme is WOVEN and was chosen by Creative Director Sammy Salsa.
“It’s a play on weaving fabrics together but also – on a deeper level I see it as interlacing or intertwining culture into modern day society and how Pacific people interlock into a western world with their fashion aesthetic and culture,” says Sammy Salsa. “It’s how Pacific fashion and culture has woven its way into a modern society in order for us (Pacific people) to fit in or to stand on our own.”
The designers showcasing at Pacific Fusion Fashion Show 2021 are:
Alexandra Simpson – Alexandra Simpson
BEAU LOUIS TAKAPU – Beau Takapu
DANE DAGGER – Dane Dagger
disciple of discipline – Massey Williams
Infamy Apparel – Amy Lautogo
Kharl Wirepa – Kharl Wirepa
LIPO – Phillip Heketoa
OHN Clothing – John Tanuvasa
s.T – Susana Tasi
Saige The Label – Sheena Taivairangi
TANIROSE TAUSIE – Tanirose Tausie
Tickets are available now from Eventfinda online and are also available by phone: 0800 BUY TIX (289 849). Pacific Fusion Fashion Show tickets go quickly so if you’re interested in attending we recommend booking early.