PNG Fashion Week officially began yesterday, starting with a two day workshop looking at various topics associated with the industry. The workshop, attended by local designers and models, was full to capacity at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby.
Chair of PNG Fashion Week, Janet Sios, said while it has been a long time coming she had always hoped for a breakthrough for local designers and models to make history on the runway in New York.
“I would sometimes contemplate a breakthrough for our girls modelling and local designers making history on [the] runway in New York. But now for the first time after 40 years, PNG Fashion Week will be the voice and the face of Pacific region in the fashion industry,” Sios said.
Other speakers at the workshop included Professor Michael Mel, a professor in creative arts, who touched on the importance of cultural tourism.
Tourism Promotion Authority CEO, Jerry Agus, also spoke and explained what fashion tourism was and the potential for the industry.
At the end of the workshop, designers who would be presenting on Saturday night introduced themselves and gave a brief remark on there humble beginnings.
Designer Robin Morove, at just 19 years of age, said that he appreciated PNG Fashion Week because it gave a platform to take his designs to the next level.
“PNGFW will allow me to present my design and grow it to the next bigger platform which I hope is New York,” he said.
14 year veteran of the PNG contemporary fashion field, Florence Jaukae aka the Bilum Meri, said it was her first time to attend a workshop before a runway event.
“I’m suprised with a workshop like this to talk about and support us local designers its very good,” she said.
Unfortunately tickets have been sold out for the PNGFW runway on Saturday night but Sios says next time around she hopes to have it in an open space so more people can attend and appreciate PNG contemporary fashion.
