Niuean designers take ‘Welly finesse’ to Pacific Fusion Fashion Show

It takes a village to raise a child, but in the case of the Niue Creative Collective (NCC), it takes an entire community to fund a runway.

The self-funded collective is preparing to take their designs from Wellington to Auckland’s prestigious Pacific Fusion Fashion Show (PFFS) at New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) this August.

The NCC members include Maria Mitimeti, Christyl Matagi Vilitama, Inangaro Vakaafi, Margaret Jackson, and Maryanne Lapana.

“I think it takes a village and this is all self-funded,” Mitimeti tells PMN Niue.

“We've been extremely fortunate that once we've shared the story about what we're doing and the why, there's many hands that have come forward with the heart to lend their time, their resources, and also space.”

NCC made their NZFW and PFFS debut in 2025, this year marks 10 years of the PFFS.

This year, they will showcase Hiapo (traditional Niuean tapa cloth) reimagined through a contemporary lens.

By blending historic heritage with modern style, the collective aims to use the high-profile platform to preserve and pass on their cultural legacy.

“This is not just about individual pieces of fashion,” Mitimeti says. “This is about our history, the history of our people and what we bring in all the spaces that we are a part of.”

Watch Maria Mitimeti and Margaret Jackson's full interview below.

Navigating the logistical hurdles of a major fashion showcase as a self-funded entity has required some innovation.

Feeling the cost of living strain and fuel crisis, NCC has turned to their community, running raffles to help ease the financial burden.

Rookie designer and newbie to the NCC Margaret Jackson says she’s feeling a mix of nerves and cultural pride.

She describes the collection’s unique aesthetic as a fusion of regional identity and heritage.

“What excites me about being in our group is to be able to showcase what we have from Wellington to bring up to Auckland and show that kind of Welly finesse with a little bit of Niue spice in there," Jackson says.

Niue Creative Collective logo. Photo/Facebook

Though the road to Auckland is daunting, the designers are leaning into the challenge.

As Mitimeti puts it, “It's scary, but we're leaning into this opportunity. And we know that we're not alone.”

With tickets for the 21 August event at Shed 10 selling fast, the collective is calling on the wider community to get behind the movement, whether that’s by purchasing tickets or following their newly launched Facebook page.