Model Audition Draws Hundreds

Fiji Fashion Week yesterday extended the time set aside for model audition following the turnout of participants that travelled to Suva.

Fiji Fashion Week spokesperson Lice Movono said the search for 108 models between the ages of five years and 10 years was extended from midday for another two hours, as participants came from as far as the West.

Over 200 aspirants turned up for the model search at Yue Lai hotel in Suva.

Auditions was initially set from 10am to midday, but continued until 2pm to cater for everyone, she said.

May 22

Fiji Fashion Week’s children’s wear show is the most popular of all events, often met by a mad rush for seats, said Ms Movono.

Nine established designers will feature in the category, she said.

Each of the nine designers are expected to showcase 12 outfits, Ms Movono said.

The show, on May 22, will be free and hosted alongside the emerging designers category.

The show will be held on Vodafone Arena.

Student designer

The student designer show will run alongside the children’s fashion show category allows designers to bring their own models.

“It is the longest show and the most important because it represents a category that we identity raw talent,” Ms Movono said.

Applications for the student designer category will close next week.

Meanwhile, Fiji Fashion Week secured another two years of sponsorship from Colgate-Palmolive, in its bid to elevate the Made In Fiji brand.

The $75,000 per annum deal is expected to project the work of talented creators of Fiji and the Pacific, said Fiji Fashion Week chief executive officer, Ellen Whippy.

The financial partnership that Fiji Fashion Week and Colgate-Palmolive forged last year, and now will grow for the next two years, allows the brand to sit in a place on the market which reminds people of the rich cultures and talented people of Fiji, she said.

Fiji Fashion Week has continued its work for the past 14 years.

Colgate-Palmolive general manager, Hiten Lal said the fashion industry required support.

He said the move was expected to draw in more corporates to sign up as partners of the local fashion industry.

“For us, its more about getting closer to our consumers,” Mr Lal said.

“Fashion is the last thing people think about when they’re suffering, which makes us all the more happy tobe out there supporting events such as these.

“We’re hoping through this support it will come out bigger and better than it has in previous years.”

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