Student Designer Show All About Uncovering Talent
The inaugural Student Designer Show organised by the Fashion Council of Fiji is all about uncovering new talents.
This was clear when more than 10 fantastic student designers showed what they are capable of designing and producing as garment last Saturday at International School Suva.
International School Suva student Oliver Sinclair said he was happy to be part of the show and to be recognised with an award from the Council.
The Year 11 student who has been living in Fiji for 11 years has been participating in several fashion shows before.
“Ever since I can remember I have been designing and creating art and I think I admire visual arts and established designers both locally and internationally.
“I definitely want to go into art and textile design might be at a university or mentorship with established designers.
“I am really honored and I want to say thank you to my parents and family and Ms Kate Reimann my art teacher who has supported me through and my supporting friends.
He said he created a garment that stands for sustainability and it’s an up-cycle garment and doesn’t affect the environment too much.
Fashion Council of Fiji chairman Faraz Ali said: “The inaugural Student Designer Show is something new we are trying as a Council.
“So instead of taking in 100s of entries and putting pressure on students to create capsule collections immediately, many of whom have never designed before, we are stripping it back and focusing on basics.
“We accepted a limited number of students based on sketches provided so that our judges (this year they were Andrew Powell, Samson Lee, and Karlene Dangerfield) and I can speak to the designers one on one to guide them towards a career in the industry.
“In keeping with the Fashion Council of Fiji’s goals of SME development, the selected winners will be mentored by prominent fashion figures such as Andrew Powell, Samson Lee, Ilai Jikoiono, Hupfeld Hoerder and so forth, to create capsule collections that will be exhibited at the Fijian Fashion Festival, our national platform and the region’s premier fashion event, for maximum exposure.
“Our goal is to then have these young designers retail their capsule collections through boutiques such as House of Design and the like, and to have them work towards launching a full collection in the future.
“Longevity, and a successful fashion career is so much more important than a few minutes in the spotlight.
“The British Council Valuing Voices programme that supported the inaugural Student Designer Show is about giving young people a voice, and that’s also exactly what we as a Council are committed to.”
The Bottega Gold Fijian Fashion Festival an intiative by the council is scheduled for June 1 and 2 at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva.
