The man behind the ‘Kuiviti’ brand has a new edition to his collections.

On Saturday night, Epeli Tuibeqa launched the ‘Dre Ko Malolo’ collection during his stand-alone Koro Makawa fashion show at the Fiji Museum.

Mr Tuibeqa was recently awarded the Designer of the Year Award and was also included in the Hall of Fame during the Fiji Fashion Awards in August.

“Fascinated by our Fijian idioms it inspired me to create something unique and thus the creation of “Dre Ko Malolo”, depicting the colours of the sunsets in Fiji,” Mr Tuibeqa said.

“As young people, we need to be more aware of our language and our culture, this is my way of telling our stories, and as an Itaukei individual, I wanted to tell my story.

“The exciting part is conceptualizing and drawing it out and putting the creativity into the paper.

“The hard work comes in when you pick up the fabric, choose the colors and put them all together.

Kuiviti Fashion designer Epeli Tuibeqa.

“It took a maximum of three months preparing for this,” he said.

“It was a collaborative effort that made this event a success.”

His first stand-alone show was held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He encourages young and upcoming designers never to hold back and go for it and reach out to him for any advice or assistance.

His main challenge was procrastination.

Fiji Fashion Show founder Ellen Whippy-Knight said for a designer to open a shop is the way to go now. Ms Whippy-Knight said there was nothing more to touch and feel than the garment that you want to purchase.

She said while online shopping was now the trend, most consumers still prefer to touch, feel and try on the garment before they buy it.

“It is nothing like trying it on to see what it looks like on your colorway, your skin, the way it falls on you,” Ms Whippy-Knight said.

“Epeli is the designer of the year and you can see why, his vision is extraordinary, the way he collaborates or includes his culture and the iconic Fijian traditions into his prints, is just marvelous.

“He has done sketches of a Fijian bure for his new prints, he has styled it so well that no one will be able to copy that’s a genius.

“Every time you see that design, you would know it’s Epeli Tuibeqa, and that’s what you do as a designer striving to be recognised for a particular style or brand.”

Mr Tuibeqa plans to have his next show in the United States of America.

Feedback: laisa.kabulevu@fijisun.com.fj