Fiji Fashion Week Luxe Show
Saturday night was Fashion Weeks Luxe Show where eleven designers took to the runway their best in Fashion and it was hard for me to choose my favourites. Each designer brought their own style and technique to the runway and some of them almost scored 10/10 from me. Here are my TOP 6 FAVOURITES (yes, top 6) from Saturday night. Jadeine Whiteside - HANISI’OF Collection I’m a huge fan of Jadeines clothing and I’m sure many people are too. I mean, she is the granddaughter of Fiji’s classic and probably the oldest Fashion Label ‘TikiTogs’ and has truly carried that with her since she started her journey in Fashion.
I saw one of her pieces at the Fashion Week launch last week and I didn’t find it attractive as I did her pieces from her previous collections.
But after seeing her HANISI’OF line in full on Saturday, I automatically had a place for it in my top 5.
The designs were great, but what caught my attention was her play on fabric; how she mixed her iTaukei printed satin with embellished lace. Her choice of vibrant colours was perfect for her story line.
Job well done Jadeine, job well done.
ELARADI - by Laisiasa Davetawalu This was his first collection with Fashion Week and I assure you we’ll be seeing more of this talented young man.
Laisiasa first started as a student designer from Sigatoka Methodist School with big dreams and incredible talent. He later on studied fashion and textile at APTC in Suva and has just recently graduated in his Certificate III and IV from the institution.
Perfect timing to release a collection don’t you think? Started in his teens, learnt the technical side of fashion and absorbed everything he could from studies and mentoring to now releasing an amazing collection.
Lais signature cape sleeves worked wonders on the runway and so did his body suits. Again, print-on-print, but he made it work with his skilful appliqué and embroidery work. He fancied his clean-cuts and clean lines for his debut collection and I’m living for it all. Upcoming designers take note. Congratulations Lai.
RAKO DESIGNS I’m all for Rakos new look and you should be too. For the past few years I felt Rakos designs were traditionally entrenched. But not this time.
I was blown away with Rakos collection. Letila and the group paid a lot of attention to this line because it showed graciously on the runway.
The flow of her maxi skirts and dresses together with her two-tone ombré effect on her prints is everything to me. It looked like a cross between Conservative India, Vintage America with prints from the beautiful Rotuma. Rako styled it up very well and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for 2019. Letila and the group, GREAT JOB !
KAKALI by Robert Verebasaga Roberta Roberta! This collection was everything and more for me. The way each piece was styled is what I loved most. Too often designers forget to style their pieces well before it hits the runway, I’m glad the games changed.
The stripes worked well with bold accessories and I’m glad there was a pop of colour to break the monochrome. Well done Roberta.
IKOU by 8Mountains Come through ROTUMA , come through!
If anything, I’m most proud of 8Mountains Collection this year because they based their story on the most important staples in Rotuma and Fiji and if not the Pacific - Rourou and Dalo (Taro and Taro leaves).
I never thought these two things would ever look so beautiful to me. Every time I think of ‘rourou’ it reminds me of my Mum and how she would force me to eat it because “it will make you strong”. *rolls eyes*
But after seeing Moira and David Solvalu turning this root-crop and vegetable into fashionable prints . . . WIG —> snatched —> out the door all the way to the islands!
Creative and stylish. Good job 8Mountains.
Hupfeld Hoerder Designs by Hupfeld Hoerder I’ve read so many posts about how Huppy’s collection was almost like ‘dejavu’. But if you have a eye for detail you’ll know that it isn’t dejavu but a continuation on designs and looks that’s already been established.
After years of being in the industry I got to realise just how important continuity was in terms of marketing and sales. It’s what people like and it’s what people will buy. Yes, we’re all for something new, but if this is what’s raking in the dollars than so be it.
Again, Hupfeld released a vintage collection with a take on modernism. Lace on his signature prints, multiple shades of nude accessorised with vintage looking gloves to chapeaus.
Honestly, how can someone not find that interesting ? In a world full of Kardashians, it’s good to see clothing that’s made for Queens. Faikasia Huppy for taking me down memory lane with that collection.
Now on to my LEAST FAVOURITE 3 The Haus of Koila by Koila Ganilau Lee Ok so Friday night Koilas son Rafa made a huge impression on me and probably everyone else who watched the show with his debut collection. Koilas Collection I wasn’t a huge fan of. I mean, I get the story line and Asian Infusion but it just isn’t my cup of tea. There was only one piece which I loved, the others not so much. It was, as I’d like to call it, a ‘hot mess’. The prints to the colours to the accessories and to the overall style. Perhaps stick to her signature prints like she did at last years FJFW ? But huge respect for effort and time spent on this collection.
Anton Conway Wye Anton’s a sweetheart and is loved by many in the industry, but I wasn’t impressed with his satin and lace dress collection. I think it was the puckering that didn’t sit well with me. I’ve known Anton for many years and he’s designed and tailored many outfits for me, but just this once I’ll have to say no. Maybe next year Anton.
Stylosophy by Ana Rabuka Weilei Ana. My crazy sistergirl from Nadi. Close friends of Ana will know that she is unarguably the biggest Rugby fan ever and I feel that this was what her collection was all about - Rugby. There were a few pieces which I liked, but the majority of it didn’t make the cut for me. Muscle-shirts and dresses were alright I guess. What didn’t make sense the most was the finale dress. The dress alone was beautiful. It was light blue velvet with an off-shoulder style and floor length. It would have been a perfect finale without the flag trailing behind. Hopefully something better from Ana at next years Fashion Week.
So there it is. My final blog and review for Fiji Fashion Week 2018. I may have stepped on a few toes with my latest blogs but hey, it is what it is. Looking forward to this weeks Fijian Fashion Festival. Shoutout to my photographer at the festival, Ray Lochlan Campbell, who will be photographing for Three Good Lane Fiji this weekend.
Special thanks to Infinity Images for the crisp and clear runway shots which was used in this write-up. Don’t forget to watch this space for more reviews from this weeks Fashion Fest. Penning out. David Solomone
