At The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show, The Spotlight Was On Māori & Pacific Creativity

Now in its ninth year, a platform that has helped raise the profile of Māori and Pacific fashion ingenuity made a statement about its commitment to the future.

This month, the ninth annual Pacific Fusion Fashion Show returned to Tāmaki Makaurau at Pier 1 Ferry Terminal showcasing a range of Māori and Pacific fashion designers from here and overseas.

With a focus on the theme “Navigator”, founder Nora Swann welcomed guests with a quote from I-Kiribati and African-American scholar, poet and activist Teresia Kieuea Teaiwa.

“We sweat and cry salt water, so we know that the ocean is really in our blood.”

“Our mission is to empower fashion creators and entrepreneurs,” said Nora in the show’s notes, “and help them step confidently into the world of fashion. This milestone is the result of the years of dedication from everyone involved with the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show.”

This year’s event celebrated Pacific peoples, creativity and culture. It also marked a new partnership with New Zealand Fashion Week, with the annual fashion event committing to Pacific Fusion Fashion and confirming it as part of the 2025 New Zealand Fashion Week schedule.

Opening with a performance from leading Samoan singer Marina Davis serenading the Waitematā Harbour, the runway show extravaganza opened with a moving collection from Māori weaver Te Ataraiti Waretini and her label Maru Creations. As a third-generation weaver, Te Ataraiti’s designs combine a sense of tradition with contemporary colours and texture, with a poignant message about identity and what it means to be Māori today.

Other standouts included Public Island Society’s parade of tie-dye dresses that work for several special occasions. A lime green cocktail mini dress trimmed with raffia and a pearl-embellished bustier top with baggy cargo trousers solidified Public Island Society’s reputation as a brand well-versed in party dressing.

Funk N’ Soul 97 designer and model Tia Semi once again won the crowd over for her second time, presenting a collection and modelling. The Perth-based model and designer with disabilities honours her Polynesian heritage in her designs working with a range of fabrics including silk, cotton, rayon and lycra, using the traditional technique of hand printing to create one-of-a-kind prints.

Among the best looks of the night were a chainmail top created with tapa, and traditional elei print dresses.

Fijian-based designer Cherish Prasad also delivered memorable looks in the show, featuring some of the best adornments on display with intricate neckpieces worn by several models. Menswear was a key focus as well, with black-based print making its way onto men’s shirts and dresses. With a modern take on that Pacific wardrobe essential, the Muu’muu, there were contemporary iterations of these from the brand that would appeal to a younger demographic.

Fellow Fijian label Laboriel also stood out for its contemporary takes on traditional print work, a hot pink kaftan dress and men’s shirt and shorts sets made a particular impact for its wearability and potential to reach a wider demographic.

One of the more impressive collections of the night came via the label Kanadan Guinife from Micronesia, designed by Shannon Tudel Sasamoto. The collection focused squarely on shades of brown; one particular standout was a raffia trim skirt set styled with a parasol, one of the best-styled looks of the night.

Another standout was a crop bib-inspired crop top piece with a matching maxi skirt; and a full-length kaftan-style dress that works for all shapes and sizes.

Hailing from Fiji, the designer presented a Bollywood-inspired collection that emphasised colour and embellishment for both womenswear and menswear.

With a background in fashion buying, Zulfikar’s understanding of fusing Western and Indian influences is a vital inclusion among the group show’s less experienced designers, providing opportunities for established brands to share their knowledge with emerging designers. Floating wrap skirts and men’s kurta tops were a good addition to the showcase.

Further highlights include a cohort from Whitecliffe College, an essential inclusion in the line-up of 15 fashion designers given their technical prowess.

Tapping into the very distinctive take on streetwear that Pacific people living in urban environments have long influenced, Deadly Denim was another great example of taking the humble denim and reworking it into saleable and scaleable fashion designs. A denim jumpsuit was a standout, along with a patchwork vest and a smart chambray suit.

Pacific Aura’s collection of psychedelic print dresses and gowns with pockets also provided a distinctive Pacific glamour. One particular highlight was a maxi peplum skirt rendered in a black and gold print.

But the highlight of the night came from House of Va, which could quite possibly be the accessories designer of the year with its remarkable feathered headpieces quickly becoming the brand’s signature.

Designers Vivian Hosking-Aue and Puretu have focused on creating tailor-made garments that emphasise Pacific weaving and natural fibres, and working these into their avant-garde designs.

Tulip dresses were also a strong contender for evening wear with a twist, wearable but more importantly, fun. The energy the brand provided was a great way to end another successful year for the community-driven fashion event and one that celebrates Pacific and Māori fashion design from all walks of life.

Dan Ahwa is Viva’s creative director and a senior premium lifestyle journalist for the New Zealand Herald, specialising in the business of style, luxury, art and culture.

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