GPH to Host First Wearing Fiji Show
The fashion show will take place on the first week of September and the organisers will release details as COVID-19 restrictions are updated closer to the date.
The Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH)has been home to some of the most prestigious Fijian fashion events from our Hibiscus festivals to hosting royalty.
In particular the foyer of the grand old lady, where Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex have been hosted to high fashion balls. Wearing Fiji will be the first fashion event to take place at the foyer, since The Grand Pacific’s reopening in 2014,
New fashion project ‘Wearing Fiji’ is set to launch in September with a fashion show show casing fashion designers and artisans from Fiji.
The project co-founder, Samson Lee said: “There is something profound in hosting an event in a place that has so much history, we are excited and honoured. It feels like we’re writing a page to add to GPH’s history.”
About the project
The project will focus on fashion mentoring and education by connecting aspiring student designers with established designers in Fiji.
“There is a wealth of know ledge with our designers in the industry and what we’re trying to do through the project is identify aspiring designers in our community and connect them with designers who want to mentor” said co-founder, Neisau Tuidraki.
Support SMEs
With COVID having an impact on the livelihoods of Fijians the project also aims to support Small and Medium Enterprise (SME’s) by engaging designers and artisans from our community by hosting a fashion show to launch the project said Mr Lee.
“Our team is mindful of the struggles our small businesses are going through so w e take the time to see what SME’s are out there and try and connect with them and use them from pop eateries to small restaurants to small fashion brands to vendors for the actual show, we must support our community.”
Mr Lee also added that the show will draw inspiration from the crimson shining parrot.
He added the species is endemic to the islands of Kadavu and Ono in the Kadavu Group and it’s also know as the ‘kakula’.
“We are surrounded by one of the most lush environments in the world and I wanted our designers to draw inspiration from one of our most exotic birds, it will inspire some amazing collections for the night,” said Mr Lee.
Over the next month the project will be identifying student designers and pairing them with participating designers and they will undergo a four week mentorship and produce one garment for the fashion show proper.
“I am excited to be mentoring a student designer for the project and imparting know ledge to the next generation.
“We need to connect and encourage and this project facilitates that” said established designer Hupfeld Hoerder.