Pacific vogue endorsed in new deal with New Zealand Fashion Week

A historic collaboration has been set as New Zealand Fashion Week will now include the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show in their schedule.

It also means PFFS holds its last annual runway on 7 December 2024, in partnership with Pacific Media Network.

After NZFW’s surprise cancellation of its 2024 showcase, their website recently announced a return to Auckland’s Viaduct Event Centre in August 2025. From then on, NZFW will occur biennially.

The first standalone Pacific fashion segment debuted at NZFW 2023. Photo/PMN News

NZFW owner Feroz Ali (Tavua - Fiji) says they are “really delighted” to be partnering up with PFFS and its founder and director, Nora Swann.

"What better way to support the community, the designers, and the industry than to team up with these amazing people and lend a hand wherever we can," Ali said.

"Things are very tough these days. Designers have got it hard, tough economic times, and people are closing shops."

Ali says NZFW’s postponement came as an opportunity to help elevate the Pacific fashion industry and connect Swann to wider industry networks and resources.

"We’ve got a big reach, we’ve obviously media partners, partners and sponsors and stuff. But we’ve also got the talent in public relations, ticketing systems and all that kind of stuff, departments that we work with.

PFFS’ theme this year is “Navigator” inspired by the late i-Kiribati and African-American scholar and poet, Teresia Kieuea Teaiwa, who once said,

The concept is being developed by Creative Consultant Sammy Salsa.

Swann says teaming up with PMN brings growth and expansive reach.

“We want to keep evolving and innovating the show so that we’re ensuring people globally can watch the show.

“We see an opportunity to team up with PMN as a way of extending our runways into new community spaces through their many channels.”

Linking up with NZFW and PMN aligns with their vision where, as Pacific designers, they strive to uphold and future-proof creative and cultural values whilst navigating their identities in the mainstream fashion industry.

PMN's Susnation Seta is set to walk again in the December show. Photo/PMN News

Ali says the collaboration is without question enhancing the vibrancy of Pacific artistry and flair.

“When you have aspirational fashion designers and they create these beautiful garments and they try to commercialise it by selling to consumers if, you know, they can hit certain audiences.

“Whereas all we are trying to do is amplify their voices. Get their designs, their patterns, and their creativity all out to the public domain.

“And honestly, Pasifika forms such a huge part of New Zealand’s population particularly in Auckland.

So why not help them and why not make it a feature (to) celebrate Pacific fashion as loud as possible.”

Designers lineup for the PFFS 2024.

Nineteen fashion designers will feature in the end-of-year programme, with the designers having ties to American Sāmoa, Tonga, Sāmoa, Australia, Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, Niue, the Philippines, and homegrown talent from Aotearoa.

Location for the final standalone PFFS show will be at Te Komititanga - Downtown Ferry Terminal in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, the public square at the harbour end of Queen Street.

Tickets available through eventfinda.co.nz