Model Eden Tapuosi is the Face of Fusions 2016.
South Auckland will get a vibrant dose of fashion when The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show (PFFS) takes to the stage at Andrew Simms in Botany on September 3rd. The inaugral event has been created to showcase a fusion of Pacific fashion and Western fashion, with each designer bringing their own unique style to the runway. It's the brainchild of director and stylist Nora Swann who wanted to bring a fresh, high-end fashion experience to South Auckland which exhibits the local fashion talent of Pacific people. Tickets for PFFS will go on sale via Eventfinder in early July.
PFFS is also a networking opportunity for emerging and established designers which enables them to gain exposure for their labels and opportunities to enhance their design careers. The event ran their first workshop for the designers on Sat May 28th at Botany Town Centre with guest speaker fashion designer Louina Fifita as well as a Q&A session to provide support and information. The next PFFS workshop will take place this Saturday 25th June. Designers wanting to take part in the event have until 6th August to register their interest. The event was originally targeted towards Pacific designers but it has generated massive interest from non-Pacific designers and is open to all ethnicities. A pop-up shop will also be available on the night for the audience to purchase the designer's garments.
Among the designers registered for the event is Wellington-based fashion designer Dane Dagger, who specialises in creating limited edition pieces with an avant garde, streetwear integrity as well as local streetwear designer KUJO clothing who are family owned and operated. Nora Swann will also be running an up-styling show on the night using pieces from the Ivy Park brand which is stocked at Topshop and will give the audience ideas on how to mix and match pieces to create fresh, stylish looks.
Model Eden Tapuosi.
Eden Tapuosi has been announced as this year's Face of Fusions and the former Miss Niue Aotearoa 2012 features in the promotional imagery for the event. As past of the event PFFS will also be looking for the Face of Fusions 2017 and the modelling competition will also take place on the night. An earlier casting call in May has seen strong interest in this side of the competition as well.
There are over 35 partners on board for PFFS including New Zealand Fashion Week, Andrew Simms Botany car dealership, Botany Town Centre and NZME's FLAVA radio station. Pacific Fusion Fashion Show is both a fashion show and a competition utilising prizes that are donated by Spotlight, Bernina, and
a prize package of hair/makeup photography and fashion feature in FashioNZ to name a few. The competition has a prestigious judging panel with representatives from NZ Fashion Week, Dan Ahwa – Fashion Editor of Viva Magazine and Canvas Magazine, The New Zealand Herald (NZME.) and Carla van Zon – Artistic Director of Auckland Arts Festival
"I can't believe how big the event has grown. My little community event just kept on expanding every time I shared my vision with others. To me that says there is a hunger for this event," says Mrs Swann. "We've had interest from Australia and the Pacific Islands from designers wanting to take part in the event. One thing is certain – our show is all about innovation and will be full of surprises – it's not going to be 'just' another fashion show."
Although the event has had strong support from both the local and wider community which is enabling it to take place on September 3rd it is currently being self-funded by Nora Swann and she is hoping it's success will lead to PFFS being sponsored next year to enable it to grow and develop.
Images supplied.