New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, H.E Ms Charlotte Darlow,
Chief Executive Officer for Fiji Fashion Week, Ms Ellen Whippy,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka and a good evening to you all.
It is a pleasure to be part of this auspicious occasion amongst such visionary, talented and driven individuals within the fashion industry.
The fashion industry worldwide is transforming into a wider, more ambitious and committed business platform. That is why we must continue to work together to build and create brand identity for Fijian designers.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since the inception of Fiji Fashion Week in 2008, we have all witnessed the growing capacity of the organisation. Fiji Fashion Week continues to reach new horizons. They have provided a platform for local designers to show their creative skills and encourage the proliferation of globally competitive fashion design. This in turn will drive international demand and recognition for our local designs.
Fiji clearly punches above its weight when it comes to creativity. Despite containing less than 0.012 percent of the world’s population, Fiji has created a brand that is synonymous with quality, high standards, and exclusivity associated with our pristine environment – which definitely includes our fashion industry.
With nominations ranging from ‘Designer of the Year’ to ‘Model of the Year’, ‘People’s Choice Award’ and ‘New Face Male Model’ and many more, we are confident that this industry will give rise to new and aspiring designers to carry the Fijian brand forward.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Fijian Government strives to play an active role in the fashion industry. Through effective and enhanced collaboration, we are invigorating our fashion industry to complement Fiji’s retail sector.
With this in mind, the Fiji Development Bank had introduced a loan scheme specifically for women entrepreneurs to realise and foster their innovative business ideas.
Furthermore, the Ministry has been collaborating with the Fiji Fashion Week to nurture and develop quality locally made products for international visitors through our national brand of Fijian Made.
The Business of Fashion training is a result of our collaboration to develop local talent. To enhance their innovative ideas and turn their talents and passion into income-generating ventures.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There are various initiatives implemented by the Ministry to help you harness your talents while also giving you a cutting edge at a global platform. The Fijian Made Brand, provides businesses an opportunity to align to the national campaign, when marketing in the domestic or international markets.
The MSME Fiji, provides focused support to MSMEs and empower interested MSMEs to challenge the boundaries to create a more enabling business environment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Fashion Week generates significant economic activities, these include hiring of technical drafters, graphic designers, fabric merchants to runway models. In fashion, as well as culture, innovation, and creativity, we enjoy a unique advantage. Fiji does not currently have the ability to mass produce like large Asian manufacturers, but what we did was we re-invented our textile and clothing industry to produce niche, high-end and now designer garments.
During the pandemic, the industry worked with the protocols provided by the Ministry, which enabled them to continue operations. This meant people continued to be employed.
The Fijian fashion industry has huge potential to become a very successful industry. For this to happen, all stakeholders will need to work together with a common objective.
It is essential to look at the future and the opportunity to collaborate and innovate. Many local designers have embraced Fashion Week as it is a central hub and business tool in connecting designers with key industry stakeholders and consumers.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Coming back to tonight’s event, this room is filled with great talent and it does not go unrecognised. It takes creative minds to be able to do what you do. From fashion designers to models to the minds behind the brand, it is all of you who have brought the Fiji Fashion Week to where it is today, and it is all of you who will take it further.
There are initiatives by the Fijian Government currently in place for your businesses. I encourage you to venture into them. They are after all put in place to assist businesses, namely MSMEs. And with a room filled with such innovative minds, allow us to provide you with a platform that takes your brand to newer heights.
I also applaud the hardworking team who are behind the continuous growth of the Fiji Fashion Week. For 15 years, Fiji Fashion Week continues to live up to the hype and standards that it sets for itself within the fashion industry. Ellen and team, keep up the great work. You are providing entrepreneurs interested in the fashion industry with a platform to explore their talents and be recognised for it as well.
The Ministry hopes to continue to support the fashion industry and we hope to explore more collaborations with the team of Fiji Fashion Week in the future. Thank you and Vinaka Vakalevu.
