The Fashion Council of Fiji is very proud to have selected Libby Pickering as its representative in the Made in the Commonwealth Reception in London.

Council chairman Faraz Ali said: “Now what’s very unique about Libby she is not your traditional emerging designer although she is 54-years-old and has been living away from Fiji for about 30 years.

“Her heart has always been here and she has decided to return to Fiji where they are making plans for retirement in Taveuni which is where her husband Grant is from.

“She is basically project managing their lifestyle retirement plan part of that is accomplishing her dream which is to become designer.

“A lot of emerging designers are young but in Libby’s case I think she’s fantastic that she has decided to come and have this incredible dream accomplished right here at home.

“Very often people think that you have to go away to accomplish your dreams and I think this is a really strong testament too what the Fashion Council has achieved in the industry.

“Her product is going to be very unique in that it is made out of all traditional and natural fibres including black pearls.

“It’s a contemporary take on a traditional wedding dress.

Mr Ali said she has explained how this garment can be turned into a commercial garment for another market using more conventional fibres such as silks etc..

“But her thinking is well in Fiji, traditional fibres there is a big market for that right here so why not tap into that

“I think that’s what she is doing and it’s a fantastic representation of what she has done.

About Libby

“So she left a few years ago, after she won the 1985 Hibiscus Pageant Miss Charity crown.

“She won a little red car donated by Niranjans and the dress she was wearing when she took the Miss Charity crown was made by her in 1985. She always had a definite desire and love for designing.

She always had this passion for creating new things and I am so glad she has the chosen fashion as her platform.

“We are all very happy at the council that she will be representing us as a new designer and at the sametime somebody who is fulfilling their dream at this stage of their life.”

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