Lautoka-based fashion designer, Moira Solvalu of 8 Mountains is organising the Sugar City’s first red carpet fashion show in August.

The funds will help finance the Northern Club’s 11-year-old swim club, The Great White Sharks Swimming Club, for next year’s overseas swim tournaments.

The funds will cater for transportation and other needs for the 30 plus swimmers around Fiji.

The swimmers are between the ages of seven and 16.

Ms Solvalu who is part of the club’s committee team said there were plans to send the team to the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Hawaii and Sydney, Australia.

Part of the fundraising was to ensure that the swimmers get exposure from other overseas swimmers.

“I wanted to do this for 8 Mountains because I saw that everyone from Lautoka had to travel to Nadi or Suva to watch a fashion show, I thought of doing one for 8 Mountains in Lautoka,” said Ms Solvalu.

“Then I saw the idea of the kids looking for a method to fundraise for going overseas next year, so I took the idea of having my own show and advice from other top designers in Fiji if they wanted to assist and they said yes.”

She said 11 of Fiji’s designers would showcase their full collection having around 10 to 12 garments for each designer.

The designers include, Hupfeld Hoerder, Samson Lee, KuiViti by Epeli Tuibeqa, LavaLani by Su Samuels, House of Mausio, Tracy Farrington, Laboriel by Shane Pickering, Kalokalo by Andrew Powell, Temesia and Robert Verebasaga, Pacific Island Art, Hefrani by Aisea Konrote and ACW by Anton Conway Wye.

Some of Fiji’s top models like Caroline Gatu, Nanise Rainima and Remy Naqali will also feature at the show.

“8 Mountains will close the show with the revelation of the swim club’s uniform for 2023 where the children will be modeling the kids active wear,” Ms Solvalu added.

“This is a first for myself and for Lautoka because a lot of brands have presence in Nadi and Suva, only 8 Mountains have presence here in Lautoka.”

“We have so much support from the designers as we have a large population residing here.”

She said the club aimed to fund- raise more than $18,000 from this event.

The fashion show is scheduled for August 20 beginning at 6pm at the Northern Club. Tickets can be purchased from the Northern Club for $150 or contact Ms Solvalu on 9354268, Lisa Roxburgh on 9128509 or Martin Coffin on 9994796.

Ms Solvalu said the club had also created a scholarship fund that would be announced after the show.

“It is a way of giving back to the society and people attending the show are supporting kids to the Common- wealth Games or to save a life,” she added.

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj