By Patricia Keamo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The 2019 PNG Fashion Week is set for 7th to 12th October with the theme ‘Cultural Renaissance’.
The platform will be more than just a fashion runway – Managing Director, Philma Kelegai, said the show will start off with ‘Essence Festival’ – a creative and cultural expo to showcase Papua New Guinean music, fashion and design. Following that will be the ‘Dream Show Commercial Runway’ which will feature great fashion designers.
On the 11th and 12th October, products and designs of emerging and established designers will be showcased. Among sponsors of the PNG Fashion Week, Digicel joined, becoming the gold sponsor for this year’s Fashion Week. They have also presented a cheque of K30, 000 to PNG Fashion Week.
The designers for the Fashion Show are to be selected from Alotau, Kokopo, Enga, Lae and Goroka, making a total of 5 designers to attend the show.
With a lot of designers and platforms emerging within the fashion industry in Papua New Guinea, it creates an opportunity for designers to market their designs and products locally and internationally.
Fashion and design is becoming a growing industry in the country, igniting international attention, which creates a hub for fashion tourism. PNG Fashion week has recently partnered with the Commonwealth Fashion Council, making them a part of an international body.
With attention and growth come certain challenges, a common one being faced by the fashion industry is the copying of designs and creating counterfeits. This is something that the designers would have to seek consultations from relevant law enforcement authorities to protect their work.
