Eager to walk the ramp
An increase in fashion events around the country has provided more employment opportunities for models and many hopefuls attended castings this past weekend hoping to find success. Read More
LICE MOVONO
AN INCREASE in fashion events around the country has provided more employment opportunities for models and many hopefuls attended castings this past weekend hoping to find success.
One hundred and seventy-eight young men and women answered model casting calls from Fiji Fashion Week (FJFW) and Haus of Koila respectively and it has inspired members of the fashion industry. Fashion Week Ltd managing director Ellen Whippy-Knight said major fashion events over the past two months since Fiji came out of lockdown had attracted many.
“We suspect people needed some reason to get out into the world again and enjoy themselves a little bit. For fashion designers and people who make a living out of fashion, that is an opportunity to bring some normalcy back to their lives too,” Ms Whippy-Knight said.
Ninety-one casted with FJFW in auditions held in Suva, Nadi and Lautoka for shows that will take place between Saturday, November 21 and Saturday, November 28 in venues between Suva and Nadi.
FJFW marketing manager Onisimo Moii said FJFW was looking for only 15 more models to bring the total number on the runway to 70.
“Fiji Fashion Week has always stood by very high standards of models because the show is for the benefit of showcasing to a wide global audience the work of Fiji’s designers. The organisation follows international standards of height to ensure that we have the best line-up,” Mr Moii said.
“We will now hold rehearsals every weekend to ensure the best quality of runway choreography is shown at FJFW shows.”
At the Haus of Koila auditions, 87 models showed up hoping to be included in Adi Koila Ganilau’s show which takes place on December 17 in Nadi.
“What this means is more young people are interested in getting involved in the fashion industry and it means more opportunities to earn money as well,” Ms Whippy-Knight said.
“Between the past several months, some leading fashion designers have staged their own shows and all were very well attended. This indicates for us the confidence that these designers, many of whom began exhibiting on the FJFW platform, now have.
“Fashion events which have taken place post the removal of lockdown include Zuber Fashion Overwater by Ilai Jikoiono on August 22, Wearing Fiji by Samson Lee on September 6, Noqu Kalou Noqu Vanua by Epeli Kuiviti on October 10 and Fink by Samson Lee on October 26.
“The increase of events means that people are supportive of the effort our artists and creatives have made to earn livelihoods off of their fashion talent and we welcome this community engagement. Globally it has been a difficult year for everyone and it can be worse for artists and creatives whose work becomes obscure in challenging times. Fijians are resilient and as long as we come together to celebrate each other and support each other, we will endure.”
Ms Whippy-Knight said the increase in modelling talent nationwide had given the industry more material to work with and in the next four weeks FJFW would provide training to upgrade the level of skill on the runway.
“We have a number of shows at various venues between the Capital City and Nadi and one of them is even free. The concept at every single event will be as usual, visionary and designed to highlight with the highest possible creativity and excitement, to match the quality of clothes our designers have been working on.”
Originally Published in the fijitimes on November 13 2020
