Established designer siblings Moira Solvalu-John and David Solvalu could not hold back tears of joy last night after they scooped a brace of awards at the Fiji Fashion Week Gold Couture Night.

Their designer brand 8 Mountains based out of Lautoka received the top Textile Clothing and Footwear Designer of the Year and Diet Coke Special Achievement Award last night at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Ms Solvalu-John thanked the industry for recognising her work and commended the Fiji Fashion Week for overcoming the hurdles and bold strides forward in making the event a success.

She expressed her delight with the growth of the school category and encouraged students to join schools inclined to the fashion industry.

Ms Solvalu-John said the new category would allow the next generation an easier step forward after she struggled to make her way to the top on her own.

Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources Faiyaz Koya said the Fijian fashion industry had a huge potential to become a very successful industry.

“Other industries such as beauty care, bloggers and fashion photographers synergise closely with the fashion industry,” Mr Koya said.

“And the growth of the industry has led to various new areas of activities developing in Fiji – which was never thought of previously.”

The idea was to make Fijian Fashion an international brand, he said.

He said for that to happen, all stakeholders would need to work together with a common objective and Government would provide the necessary support to make the industry grow.

Award winners

Textile Clothing & Footwear Designer of the Year – 8 Mountains

Diet Coke Special Achievement Award – 8 Mountains

Bottega Gold Textile Excellence Award – Robert Kennedy

Pacific Building Solutions Model of the Year- Ana Waqaniburotu

Lifetime achievement award- Ellen Whippy knight.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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