New South Auckland fashion show set for success

New Zealand’s first Pacific Fusion Fashion Show started as a small community project, but has now grown in scale to a major event with more than 30 designers involved.

Despite the event not being held until September, a large number of designers have already applied to be in the show, and interest has also been expressed from overseas designers based in Samoa and Tonga.

The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show event is the brainchild of personal stylist Nora Swann who said planning of the event, which she expects to be attended by up to 400 people, has been “crazy”.

“It just kind of happened . . . it was only meant to be a community event . . . but then it just kept on growing to a really large scale,” she said.

The idea started with Mrs Swann wanting to highlight the positive people in South Auckland.

“There is always so much negativity that people seem to focus on, but there’s so many cool and exciting fashion designers that are coming out from South Auckland,” said Mrs Swann.

Mrs Swann said Pacific designers are often typecast as creating traditional Pacific Island fashion, but this show will highlight new designers with a high-end fashion focus.

The show was initially just for Pacific designers, but due to the amount of interest from others, Mrs Swann has now expanded her focus to first or second generation designers with parents who migrated to New Zealand.

Showing collections at New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) can be expensive, said Mrs Swann, who hopes her show can provide a starting point for new designers.

The event has even drawn the attention of NZFW director, Dame Pieter Stewart.

Mrs Swann said she had met with Dame Stewart, who has been supportive and expressed an interest in a partnership once the Pacific fashion event has been fully developed.

No one from NZFW was available to comment at the time of publication.

Otara designer Tasha Lee designs custom-made gowns under the label Miss Tasha Lee Clothing, and will be one of the designers showcasing at the new event.

Miss Lee said the show stood out to her because of its connection to South Auckland, and believes it is a great starting point for those wanting to go forward to NZFW.

“To me it’s a platform for us to finally get recognised,” she said.

Mrs Swann has high hopes for the show and believes it will give designers a chance to get exposure in markets they haven’t been able to before.

“We would like our show to be the WOW [World of Wearable Arts show] of Auckland,” she said.

As well as a showcase, the event will feature a competition element for designers with chances to win sewing machines, vouchers, marketing videos and more.

The show is looking for 10 emerging designers and 10 established designers, and are still taking applications.