Event Organisers and Office Bearers of the Great White Sharks Swimming Club,
President, Fiji Swimming, Mr Eddie McCaig,
Event Sponsors,
CEO Tourism Fiji, Mr Brent Hill,
Fashion Designers,
Swimmers of the Great White Sharks Swimming Club,
Members of the Media,
Invited Guests and Fashion enthusiasts,
Bula vinaka and a very good evening to you all.
I want to begin by thanking you for inviting me here. It is a great honor for me to open the Great White Sharks Swimming Club – Fashion Show in my hometown, where I learnt how to swim.
It is a delight to see the Aquatic 50 Shades of Blue – richly “Celebrating All Things Aquatic”, recognising tonight’s theme.
I must say, you all look wonderful!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fashion has always been a form of a universal language which allows constructing our identities, and at the same time changes how we feel, carry ourselves and act – how amazing is it to note the exuberance a piece of clothing has.
Fashion is dynamic — and in constant change, especially in the globalised world we live in. And the Fijian fashion industry has enjoyed great success both nationally and internationally – successes which many fashion designers present here tonight have played a major part in.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Fijian fashion sector employs a large group of people at all stages from production to design and marketing – but also all those who currently subsist on to write, analyse, shoot, comment and blog about fashion. You are all essential to this lively industry.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Whilst the fashion industry braves on to face the many challenges in a post COVID world, I must commend House of Mausio, Tracey Farrington, Hupfeld Hoerder, Laboriel, Cinnamon Girls, Temesia, Samson Lee, Lavalani, Hefrani, Anton Conway Wye, Kuiviti and 8Mountains for keeping us inspired this evening.
Your support as an industry is a great Fijian way to get together to raise money for our children to take part in the Pan Pacific Comps in Hawaii and the school swimming competition in either New Zealand or Australia, next year.
I am told, there will be a great reveal of the Great White Sharks Swim Uniforms 2022/2023 season tonight alongside awarding 3 recipients with swimming scholarships.
So without taking too much of your time, I wish you all a fabulous evening, and declare the Great White Sharks Swimming Club – Fashion Show officially open.
Thank you and Vinaka Vakalevu.
