Managing Director Ellen Whippy-Knight and Major Sponsor Vodafone Fiji at this year's Vodafone Fiji Fashion Week. Photo credit: FJFW.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
A docu-series showcasing the challenges and triumphs of what makes Vodafone Fiji Fashion Week such a unique event will soon screen across the Pacific.
David Solomone holds the PR and Digital Activation role in the Fiji Fashion Week team and has helped Fiji Fashion Week evolve into a cultural movement over the past three years.
He says the new docu-series is an opportunity to show people what exactly goes on backstage to make the show happen.
“We thought we would show people the chaos backstage and all that it takes to make this show happen – and that it’s not all about the glamour,” David says.
“There is a lot of work that is put in to planning the biggest fashion event in the South Pacific.
“I think, for the longest time, our followers and the general public really only saw the glitz and the glam of Fiji Fashion Week – everything that happens front of house, the show area and the runway – everything was very one-dimensional, so we decided to change it up a bit.”
Among the docu-series highlights for David, is the opening scene.
“It was final rehearsals on the Thursday night before our first show on Friday and our models are trying out the variations, but it wasn’t working according to plan so everybody is stressing out and the team is feeling the pressure,” he explains.
“There are a lot of cuss words being thrown around five minutes into episode and it really just shows the reality of what it is like leading up to Fiji Fashion Week.”
However, the iconic event is more than just a runway show, and over the years, it has empowered Fijians and Pacific artisans, fashion designers and other fashion stakeholders by providing an international platform to showcase their talent.
The 2025 edition of Vodafone Fiji Fashion Week was staged in early June, in Suva, marking 18 years since the event began, and filming the docu-series now has provided a moment of reflection for the organisers ahead of preparing for the milestone 20th anniversary, in 2027.
Tracey Ann Farrington designs at the Vodafone Fiji Fashion Week. Photo credit: FJFW.
David says Fiji Fashion Week has always welcomed other designers in the Pacific who wish to showcase their art – from as far as Papua New Guinea, Wallis and Futuna, to French Polynesia.
“This allows us, Fijians and Pacific Islanders, to preserve our cultural identity through fashion,” he says.
“It creates economic opportunities, especially for women and youth, while promoting sustainability and ethical design.
“Through international exposure and community driven initiatives, Fiji Fashion Week uplifts Fiji on a global stage.”
By showcasing the richness of Pacific fashion, celebrating indigenous design, sustainable practices and emerging talent from across the region, designers, models and creatives are provided with an avenue to reach a global audience, he says.
“Fiji Fashion Week blends fashion with heritage, innovation, and storytelling in a way that no other fashion week does.
“Multiple designers who started out at Fiji Fashion Week have now started their own fashion labels, including Laisiasa Davetawalu (Elaradi) and Atelaite Daunibau (Sugarose).”
Laisiasa started as a student designer with Fiji Fashion Week and after studying fashion in Sydney, worked at Zimmerman.
He is currently based in Fiji and focused on growing his own personal brand Elaradi.
Meanwhile, Atelaite first started designing at the age of 16 with Fiji Fashion Week and is now the go-to person when it comes to hair and makeup and bridal wear in Fiji.
She now operates her own atelier in Toorak, Suva and is usually booked out a year in advance with her bridal orders.
David says there are many other designers such as Robert Kennedy, Anton Conway Wye, Sue Samuels, Cherish Prasad, Hupfeld Hoerder and others who have always been in the fashion scene in Fiji and designing full time.
He also thanks the Fiji Fashion Week Managing Director Ellen Whippy Knight, for getting Fiji TV onboard this project and for allowing the creative space to bring this docu-series to life.
“Also, special thanks to the Fotofusion Photography and Videography crew for their creative eye , Nicole Matavesi, our lovely host, Bulou Korovulavula and Lorisha Lopez for working behind the scenes.”
Pasifika TV plans to screen the docu-series ahead of New Zealand Fashion Week – check the Pasifika TV Guide for the schedule.
