The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) PNG is staging a fashion extravaganza on Saturday July 30 showcasing unique garments from local designers.
The Project Runway will be staged at Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby and has already attracted an array of local designers who will display outfits in three specific categories.
Categories on show at the Project Runway are Traditionally Inspired Dress, Sarongwear (laplaps) and Day/Eveningwear.
Local designers have been invited to create pieces in all three or just one or two of the categories.
There will be cash prizes including K10, 000.00 for the overall winner who will travel to Samoa to be the stylist for Miss Papua New Guinea at the Miss Pacific Islands pageant.
Three international judges have confirmed attendance at the Project Runway. One of them is TAV designs from Cook Islands whose designs were worn by Prince William and Kate Middleton on their tour of Solomon Islands in 2012.
The other two are KuiViti from Fiji who has showcased his outfits during the Los Angeles Fashion Week and; Coco Craftique from Tonga who has displayed his creations at the Style Pasifika Fashion show in New Zealand.
These international designers will conduct a one-day workshop for local designers before the Project Runway.
One of the organisers of the Project Runway, Ms Euralia Paine said this was an ideal opportunity for local designers to take their work to the next level.
“Many of our designers are women who operate in their homes. They are small entrepreneurs in a cottage industry;” she said. “We are providing them a unique opportunity to showcase their designs on a regional platform. Miss Papua New Guinea is a cultural ambassador. When she wears their designs, it speaks volumes for them and for Papua New Guinea.”
“The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant PNG, through the Project Runway is proud to shine a spotlight on the work and the talent of PNG artists.”
Tickets for the Project Runway on July 30 can be purchased from Lamana Hotel and House of Gemini in downtown, Port Moresby.
Background
The MPIP PNG is a not-for-profit organisation which holds its pageant in order to crown a cultural ambassador. A Crowning Ball is held at the end of each year and the winner of this pageant represents PNG in the MPIP in a Pacific Island nation in December.
We aim to select a girl who is the embodiment of the modern Papua New Guinean women, both educated and culturally aware. We also want to select a girl who represents the best that PNG has to offer, with the ability to share the spirit of PNG with others.
Most importantly, the MPIP PNG raises funds for a scholarship fund which assists young women to complete or continue their education in tertiary institutions throughout the country every year.
In 5 years, since 2011, the MPIP PNG has raised over K500, 000.00 and has assisted in educating 152 young women in colleges and tertiary institutions around the country.
We believe strongly in education as a means to empower our young women in PNG.
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