 |
| Photos By Tim Wilson (Fashion Photographer) |
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Warm Colours
PACIFIC ART AND FASHION
Fiji haute couture: Fiji Fashion Week 2010
Fiji haute couture: Fiji Fashion Week 2010: Tropical exotica imbues Fiji Fashion Week
Robert Kennedy Fiji Market Collection for Tappoos
The catwalk was dominated by floral among clothing lines created by designers in the like of Carolyn Ah Koy with her China inspired black floral dress, Ellen Whippy with her "Essence of the fifties collection" and I must say, it was a tropical exotica of colours from all over the world.
And then there was the inspiration from rich overseas architecture, from China and even Morocco. Designer Robert Kennedy Marakech collection was inspired by the country Morocco. Aside from the movie Cassablanca, Morocco is well known for its hotels surrounded by oasis, rugs, art and wild flowers - an apparent Moroccan element depicted by Robert in his designs.
With many promising designers, established and emerging designers entering this year Fiji Fashion Week, the element of surprise is there...It may be black and white, stipes, bright colours or prints, I am eager to see what will be for show this year.
However, Robert has shared an insight of his collection which his clients might just have mixed feeling about.
This year, Robert will be concentrating on only one collection - Fiji Market/Tappoo.
"I am putting all my energy into one collection. On the whole I think Fiji Fashion Week this year will be a different level of sophistication, especially as it will be held at Tappoo city.
"Tappoo have been fantastic benefactors to me and I am thrilled that they are also supporting Fiji Fashion Week with a prime Suva venue," he said.
Aside from his cocktail inspired dresses, Robert is focusing on women of all sizes with elements of his own customised prints on soft coloured materials that are bound to make Pacific women go crazy.
"I travelled to Morocco for the first time and was inspired by the wonderful architecture of the country.
This year's Fiji Market for Tappoo collection is inspired by the famous Blue Lagoon movies that were shot on location in Fiji.
"I have merged Edwardian inspired fashion like lace and fused it with the shells and fish that live in and surround a lagoon.
"My colour palette shifts from the somber tones of early 20th Century Britain to the vivid colours of the tropics.
"These combine to create a collection that can be worn around a pool by day or to a cocktail party at sunset. I feel that the main difference between this year's collection and last years is that I am more focused on my target market of women of all ages and sizes who feel comfortable and confident in themselves.
"I love bold prints that are showed off to best effect in long Mumu Dresses or Kaftans and feel that Fiji women respond very strongly to these things.
Even better for those out there that love Robert's designs, he is not a trend follower, which means, his designs are unique including the designs on them.
"I am interested in clothes that are casually elegant and most definitely suited to the tropics," he said.
"I would say that my prints are the most distinct features of my designs.
"I studied Textile Design at RMIT in Melbourne in the early 90's and majored in Print Making.
"I have always loved beautiful prints and I design all the prints in my collections. I always start my collections with the prints first and then the garment designs second.
His Fiji Market/Tappoo collection will be divided into the Kaftan collection and Pacific dresses.
"The Kaftan collection is is by far my most popular line, particularly because of the beautiful cotton Voile that I use.
"I will be keeping this base cloth and introducing some small variations on the cuts as well as some new colours and prints.
"The second part of the collection, consisting of Mumu's, Dress's and Skirts will be a Cotton/Rayon which has a silkier, more luxurious feel that translates well into evening wear as well as day wear.
"I initially designed my collections to cater towards the tourist market in Fiji but this has been completely superseded by Fiji's local market.
"Nothing has made me happier than seeing my designs worn on women of all walks of life.
"I have seen my designs on Fijian women going to Church in Sigatoka or patriotically to support the Fiji Team in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong 7's or even recently on 'old girls' at the Saint Josephs School Reunion Ball," Robert said.
Since the early 90's, Robert has been a trend setter in the Fiji fashion market.
And he believes that anyone can achieve the level of success a local designer as him as done in the years.
"For anyone wanting to be a designer I would recommend that you stand by your convictions.
"When you are creative you are exposing yourself and sometimes the criticism can be unbearable.
"All designers face criticism and the successful ones are the ones who pick themselves up again and carry on.
"Also, I would recommend getting yourself educated if you can. If you can't do so on a formal level then go to a library or on online and read all you can about what interests you.
"The internet is the most wonderful tool to use, anything you could possibly want to know is out there for you to find," the designer said.
With a little insight to Robert's collection we can make the assumption that inspirations for this year's Fiji Fashion Week does not have to stop at places or county's one visit, it can also be movies, shot right here at home.
NINA VODO - FIJI'S NEXT TOP MODEL
The young lady from Taveuni is in the country and will be modelling in this year's Fiji Fashion Week show, with other young local talents.
This will be however, a first Fashion Week experience for the 21 year old who now resides in the State of Maryland in the USA.
And she considers herself lucky to be residing there and pursing her dream in fashion.
"Fashion is something I am passionate about," she said.
"I wanted to be a doctor but when I was 14, I was tall and skinny and we had a contest, a model expo with the photogenic and runway category and then we waited for call backs, and I actually had 10 call backs, so I enlisted in an agency and started getting jobs mostly for hair products and so forth.
"But most of the jobs I got through the people I met," she said.
Nina is currently pursuing a Degree in Arts and Fashion.
Being part of Fiji Fashion week, she said, would give her the chance to learn and to be part of Fiji's fashion development.
"I want to see where Fiji is in terms of fashion.
"I have always wanted to do things that involve my country and the honour is mine to come home and be part of Fiji Fashion Week."
Her advices to young people who are striving to make it big in the industry.
"I just know there is no bigger limit than yourself and people can strive to become other things - so go for it," Nina said
Her fashion icons include supermodel Kate Moss and Tayra Banks
Meanwhile, as part of a holistic approach to the development of Fiji's growing fashion industry, Fiji Fashion Week (FJFW) and Tuckers Ice Cream are creating a platform to project and unveil the creative abilities and fashion potential of students and children in Fiji.
A total of 20 high school students with the youngest in form 3, registered their interest to design and create two garments earlier this year for the Tuckers Ice Cream Childrens Show.
"Tuckers Ice Cream is proud to be associated to Fiji Fashion Week in encouraging our children in bringing out their talent and creativity," said Goodman Fielder General Manager, Mr Shaun Joils.
"Tuckers Ice Cream strongly believes in early development whether it is academically, sports, art, dance, music or fashion. We are looking forward to this year's Fiji Fashion Week."
"We believe that fashion should also be a popular career aspect for students," said Fiji Fashion Week Managing Director, Ms Ellen Whippy-Knight.
"With corporate support the 2011 Fiji Fashion Week is offering a unique platform to Fiji's school students with an interest in fashion by giving them a chance to showcase their talent to experts of the fashion industry, which is primarily the reason why we support the event this year"
"The children that have entered in this year's Student category have displayed an amazing amount of talent. The garments that have delivered to our office indicate an enormous amount of potential in an industry that is largely untapped."
"The student design category has received garments from boys and girls as far as Ba with majority of the designers from the Central division."
Individual outfits will be judged under the following categories: creativity, uniqueness, ingenuity, its construction and technique, its professional finishing and how the final garment will be presented as a complete look.
Judges for this category will include Mark Halabe, Ana Tuiketei and Aaliyah Jan.
She Does it Like Mum
Anette White had eyes for details in fashion. Back in the days, in the 1950's to be exact , it was Annette who made Fiji Fashion visible in the eyes of many, and it was not only through local newspaper like the Fiji Times, her designs were on Australian Vogue - a whole spread on her designs, Dolly , Flair and Belle to name a few.
She was labeled by the Sydney Morning Herald as "Fiji's first fashion designer."
Anette had also designed for Peppers and many other big names in fashion during her time, and had her own shop "Nettie".
Daughter of Mark White of Korotogo, Anette had put Fiji on the map as far as fashion is concerned during the 1950's.
But her legacy still lives on?through her daughter, Samantha Farrugia, one of the designers that will be showcasing her designs in this year's Fiji Fashion Week show.
Samantha does have her mum's flair for good clothing and is someone to look out for in this year's fashion show.
area of fashion.
Samantha's childhood was spent assisting her mother Annette and never in her wildest dreamt she would fall into the same industry!
According to her Bio, she worked as Freelance Graphic Designer for over 12 years and studied graphic design and advertising graduating from Billy Blue Graphic Design and Advertising college, Sydney 1998.
During her years as a freelancer, Samantha ventured into other areas of her passions, dance and musical theatre and performed in a number of shows.
She also worked as a contemporary dance teacher and choreographed for music video producer/editor James Littlemore.
With her love for design, dance and style, Samantha decided to endeavor into the area of film and tv. Samantha completed her studies at Sydney Film School 2002 with an award for 'best production designer' for the winning short film' "Eleusinia". She also directed and produced a short documentary film "I am my own hero", focusing on street youths overcoming adversity and was awarded with 'best documentary' which toured Australia nationally with the Big Issue Film Festival.
However, through her journey as a designer and artist she felt she hadn't found her "perfect self expression" of colour and form. So in 2010 she took time out to 'play' with ideas. And with her love for sophisticated island living, Samantha decided there wasn't enough colour in the fashion world, or elegant clothing for women which made them feel beautiful, comfortable and goddess - like. So by using silk as her new canvas she began to design kaftan pieces that every woman could wear. "I like to think of my designs as inspirational art or 'pieces' rather than 'garments' or 'clothes'."
An important aspect of Samantha's life is her Fiji roots.
Samantha comes from Fijian heritage and was the first generation in her family born out of Fiji. She visits Savusavu Fiji regularly where her mother and family reside.
Savusavu has always been a source of inspiration for her designs. Her husband Nathan is a professional scuba diver and a fantastic support to her, and together with their two little dogs make up their small family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)