On Saturday night for PNG Fashion Week’s runway event, one of the designers showcasing 12 of his designs will be 19-year-old Robin Morove.
The story behind the name of his clothing line, RKM, is an important one.
Before known as Aveya Lapua, the university student renamed it to RKM after the passing of his sister, Regina Morove, in May this year that made headlines across all national media. He has now dedicated his work to his late sister.
“I changed the name to RKM after the passing of my sister to thank her for her inspiration and contribution she had made in my life,” he said.
Morove said when he first designed his dress for the Nugini Ice Fashion competition last year he realised the potential he had.
On Saturday he will be presenting eight dresses and four casual shirts for men. He uses the traditional tapa cloth design that comes from his village of Mukawa in the Raba Raba District of Milne Bay Province.
Morove is from Central and Milne Bay heritage, and while his dresses will carry the tapa design, his male shirts will have designs of the Bird of Paradise that is found in Central province.
“I want my clothing to represent my cultural identity, so when people ask who made this it can also promote where I come from,” Morove said.
He also wants to encourage other young men to consider the fashion and design industry.
“For me fashion was never my thing, I was more into sports but the fashion industry isn’t only for females and I encourage the males to give it a go,” he said.
He aspires to one day have his pieces modelled in New York.
