Stylist Nora Swann says the rise of Pacific fashion has been years in the making.
Source: RNZ Pacific
Pacific Fusion Fashion Show (PFFS) has grown from grassroots beginnings as part of New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) into a cultural movement.
Stylist Nora Swann says the rise of Pacific fashion has been years in the making.
“When Pacific Fusion first began, my vision was to create a platform where Pacific creatives could be seen, respected, and celebrated in the fashion industry, a space that reflected our stories, culture, and talent on our own terms,” she says.
That vision has evolved.
“It’s no longer about asking for space, it’s about owning it,” Nora adds.
“What started as representation has become a movement grounded in pride, performance, and purpose.”
This year’s show at NZFW is a milestone for Māori and Pasifika representation in Aotearoa’s fashion industry.
Pacific Fusion began with humble roots in 2016, launching as a small community event hosted by the Andrew Simms car dealership in Botany.
Despite its modest start, the show quickly gained momentum across the community, attracting over 30 designers eager to take part in what was originally a competition.
Nora says the partnership with NZFW is proof Pasifika fashion belongs at the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand’s creative scene.
“It’s more than inclusion, it’s impact,” she says.
“It fills a gap that was never meant to exist. It’s personal. It’s about identity, legacy, and challenging systems that have long excluded us.”
With 12 designers, 60 models, and an audience ready for something bold, Nora says attendees can expect unapologetic storytelling, fashion that speaks from the heart, and a show that is actually a movement.
Tongan-Māori designer Massey Fakavale Williams, of Disciple of Discipline Studio and a former Project Runway contestant, says Pacific Fusion brings technical skill and powerful narratives to the forefront.
“Clothes get taken for granted,” he says.
“But they tell stories.
“Collabing with NZFW lifts the stereotype of what Pacific designers can do. We’re not making basic stuff, we’re pushing boundaries.”
Massey has followed Pacific Fusion since its early days online.
“Now, being a part of it, connecting with other designers, it’s a great opportunity to show what we’re really capable of.”
For Māori designer Niquita Samuel of NIQ Atelier, fashion is about whakapapa.
Her latest collection is made entirely from recycled materials.
“I like to give old things aroha,” she says.
“Stitching my whakapapa back into what I design.”
Niquita started designing in 2011 while living in Rotorua, and her work is all about cultural storytelling and sustainability.
“Holding our cultural integrity in our fashion is really important,” she says.
“We’re not just taking ourselves on the runway, we’re taking our ancestors, our whānau, our journey.”
She adds community is at the heart of Pacific Fusion.
“When Māori and Pacific designers come together, it’s about aroha, kotahitanga.”
On the runway, model Selwyn Vaka has become a familiar presence.
He has been walking for Pacific Fusion for a few years now and says the show’s purpose goes far beyond fashion.
“Being a Poly, it’s really hard to try to find gigs in this field, but by sticking to it, I can see the fruit of my labour,” he says.
Selwyn adds his role is part of something bigger.
“It shows that our people can shine on this platform.
“We have talent, we have something authentic to offer the world.”
Model Lily Lamauta made her runway debut at Pacific Fusion in 2019 and nearly didn’t go through with it.
“I was pretty nervous,” she admits.
“I’m a tomboy. I didn’t even know how-to walk-in heels, so I had to get my older sister to teach me.
“I went to the casting thinking, ‘I’m not going to get this’.”
She did and says that moment showed her there is a space for Pacific people.
What keeps her going is the connection she feels every time she steps on stage.
“I feel empowered because I feel seen,” she says.
“Every designer tells a different story through their work, and it’s amazing to be a part of that, especially in this cultural space.”
