Niuean designers make historic debut at New Zealand Fashion Week

Niuean fashion is breaking new ground this week as designs and textiles from The Rock will shine at Pacific Fusion Fashion Show (PFFS), part of New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) 2025.

This marks the first time Niuean designs have ever graced the NZFW runway.

Six diverse designers from the NEW AWE Collective - formerly known as NEW Niue - bring together the richness of their island culture through contemporary fashion, pushing Niuean creativity onto the international stage.

The collective includes Moka Laufoli, Feofaaki (Feo) Fou, Adorra Misikea, Nitaligi Pihigia, Lynsey Talagi, and Fiafia Rex, with their work blending heritage with modern designs while celebrating innovation, identity, and cultural pride.

From botanical-inspired artistry and intricate cultural gowns to bold hand-painted aesthetics and vibrant resort wear, NEW AWE is redefining what Niuean fashion looks like for a global audience.

Feo Fou, Adorra Misikea, and Alice Tomailuga joined 531pi’s Island Time show host Tofiga Fepulea’i, to reflect on their journey to the runway.

Pacific Fusion Fashion Show has been part of New Zealand Fashion Week for two years. Photo/Facebook

Fou, a Tongan-Niuean creative, works with traditional resources, transforming natural fibres into bold pieces of wearable art.

“It’s about more than just fashion, it’s about visibility, heritage, and showing the world that Niuean culture belongs in these spaces,” Fou says.

She credits the Niue Women’s Academy of Entrepreneurs with helping women envision themselves in high-profile fashion environments.

“We did not see ourselves in the fashion runways, but the Women’s Entrepreneur had built this confidence in ourselves,” Fou says.

“This opportunity to be part of the Pacific Fusion Fashion this week is a big opportunity for me to showcase my pieces and what my talents are.

“I like to create with hihi and pomea because they ground me in who I am.

“At the same time, I want to innovate, to push our traditions into the future.”

Misikea comes from the village of Hakupu and describes stepping onto the big stage as both surreal and energising, saying that showcasing Niue’s heritage is central to the designers’ debut.

“It would be a very proud moment to have our culture and heritage be part of the Fashion Week…this is just a start for us…it's not just me, it's for the culture and for Niue always,” Misikea says.

It is overwhelming being in the same space as top New Zealand designers, and she feels very blessed, she adds.

Misikea drew on her background in pageantry and elaborate gowns for her collection pieces.

“My work is about telling Niue’s story in a way that’s elegant, powerful, and deeply connected to our roots,” she says.

“This stage lets us show that to the world.”

The PFFS is a platform that has dedicated itself to celebrating Pasifika creations and artistry, rooted in identity and community.

Its 2025 edition is to be held at Shed 10 on Auckland’s Waterfront on Saturday, 30 August, expanding access for emerging Pasifika visionaries on national and world stages.

Tomailuga, who is of Māori descent but married to a Niuean from Hakupu and Alofi, is providing support behind the scene, ensuring it all flows seamlessly backstage, emphasising Niue’s strength as a close knit community.

“The best thing about being on a small island of Niue is that we work together,” she says.

Meet the NEW AWE designers. Photo/PFFS/Facebook

“A problem is a shared problem…we are the pioneers setting the stance for future Niuean women and men who want to come into these creative spaces.

“We’re stronger together and being part of NEW AWE means we can stand on that runway not just as individuals, but as a collective voice for Niue.”

Each of the NEW AWE creatives are experts in various textile fields and bring their own unique lens on Niuean identity.

Together they are making history as the first Niuean designers to showcase at NZFW.

Laulofi is from Avatele with roots in Mutalau and specialises in woven hats and earrings.

She blends traditional techniques with modern fashion accessories that help preserve cultural attire.

Pihigia, a floral artisan store owner, brings delicate and fresh botanical artistry to Pacific fashion.

Talagi is a rising star with over two years of experience, known for hand-painted prints that are expressive and surprising.

Already leaving her mark locally and regionally, she brings an artistic edge to Niue’s debut on the NZFW runway.

Finally, Rex, who is based in Alofi South but has a boutique in Alofi North, creates vibrant resort wear that celebrates body positivity and the essence of island life.

Her empowering designs blend Niuean symbolism with on-trend confidence.

Rex joined PMN Niue on Tuesday to speak about the road from Niue to NZFW, saying it began with a cohort of Niuean entrepreneurial women in 2021 who were in pursuit of sustainable business legacies.

Their Niuean fashion showcase, spotted by PMN Niue, caught the eye of Nora Swann, founder and director of PFFS.

“The lives and the positive feedback that we received just blew us away,” Rex says.

“From then on Nora invited us to apply to be part of the Fusion show…and here we are now.

“We’re very appreciative, we’re very excited as well but you can see the girls are a bit nervous, inevitably, we’re still going to be wearing that Niuean flag.”

The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show will be held at Shed 10 on Auckland’s Waterfront, tickets are available here.