Hosanna is Duatani
NOT a stranger to the limelight, Hosanna Kabakoro is someone you’d certainly describe by the iTaukei term “Duatani”, a title which she says also accurately describes the fashion house she will take to the runway when she makes her debut as a fashion designer at the Fiji Fashion Week tonight at the The Hilton Fiji Resort & Spa. #FijiNews #FijiFashion #DuataniFiji
LICE MOVONO
NOT a stranger to the limelight, Hosanna Kabakoro is someone you’d certainly describe by the iTaukei term “Duatani”, a title which she says also accurately describes the fashion house she will take to the runway when she makes her debut as a fashion designer at the Fiji Fashion Week in the coming weeks.
Beauty queen and the United States congressional award recipient, Hosanna has represented Fiji internationally at multiple summits and as she herself describes, she also “dabbles” in the media.
But in recent years, Hosanna, who is originally from Savusavu, has lived and worked in Nadi where she and her partner run a small garment production company.
Now a mother of four, she’s worked on the Fiji Fashion scene as a model and fashion writer and knows a thing or two about the industry, even sitting on the Fashion Council of Fiji for two years.
“As an avid supporter of the Fijian fashion movement for over a decade, I strongly felt there was a need for a label that provided Fijian consumers a collection that was stylish, sustainable, and affordable. With Duatani, I’m proud to say we have achieved that,” she said.
The iTaukei word meaning “something different” is her label and her debut line is the “Civa Collection” which is part of a superstar line-up of some of Fiji’s best designers who will take part in two shows – The Oceans Gala show on Saturday, November 21 at the European Union residence, and The Resort Luxe Show on Saturday, November 28 at the Hilton Fiji Resort and Spa.
In a smart marketing move, Duatani has collaborated with a local pearl producer synonymous with the Fiji brand but who is also from Hosanna’s home town.
“We are so proud to be collaborating with J Hunter Pearls for the 2021 collection and have created a collection that highlights the beauty of the natural hues and colours of our oceans while also joining the J Hunter Pearl cause of raising awareness and creating a positive dialogue surrounding the preservation of our oceans, bays, and reefs.”
Paying homage to both her origin and the International Year of the Ocean that FJFW has chosen to centre its 2020 edition on, Hosanna is working hard to be ‘duatani’!
Sticking to an eco-friendly style, the Duatani collection which is now 95 per cent complete was produced by in-house pattern makers, and seamstresses within the couple’s Nadi workshop.
“We are focusing on creating versatile garments that can transition between work, evening, or even a fun night mums night out – as a mother of four children I know how important it is to be able to run from work to an event or even a family function – we are making sure our garments are made with upcycled/recycled fabric from fabric suppliers and larger factories that otherwise would contribute to the fashion industry globally being one of the largest polluters of planet Earth.
“Sustainability and environmentally friendly garments that are well made are the focus of our production.
“We are striving to bring ‘something different’ to the scene and we are confident that we have done just that.”
Quite the entrepreneur, Hosanna’s going for the full worth of participating at the FJFW and will open her own boutique in Nadi on November 29, a day after the finale of FJFW.
To make use of the trade exhibition nature of FJFW, Hosanna’s showcasing on the runway a sneak peek of the other types of fashionwear she will sell at her store; business casual, evening, swimwear, activewear and kids clothing.
“At Duatani we are proud to be inclusive of all genders. We feel no matter your orientation, you should feel powerful and confident in our clothing.
“We are showcasing 10 looks at the Ocean Gala show in Suva and 15 looks at the Resort Luxe show in Nadi.
“We are 95 per cent done with our 2021 collection that’s showcasing this year. We have worked tirelessly to really bring our future customers a collection that is in line with global trends for the 2021 fashion season while maintaining the integrity of our beautiful island home, and the cultures that make Fiji unique.
“Without revealing too much, we are showcasing a muted business formal line at the Ocean Gala in Suva and think Colour Explosion for our Resort Luxe show.”
And true to her background, Hosanna has brought media work into her work as a fashion designer and promises to show “a visual representation of how COVID-19 has affected fashion in our collection”.
“I think if anything, COVID has shown us that while tourism is a brilliant source of revenue for our country in times like these, we really see that our focus should always be us! Fijians!
“It’s up to us to ensure that we survive this. And I’m confident we will not only survive, but we will thrive.”
Originally Published in the fijitimes on November 12 2020
