Pasifika Style 2009

Every year, Westfield Style Pasifika pulls together the most creative and outrageous in our urban Pacific community, connecting both designer and guest into the wonderful world of design, drawing on all of our individual Pacific experiences in a dramatic showcase of colour, texture, design and not to mention, performance.

In its 15th year, Style Pasifika is certainly a high quality event, which not only showcases fashion entries but also provides a night of high quality entertainment. The performances this year on 4th September 2009 featured 200 of New Zealand’s finest entertainers, including a great mix of the Herbs, Moana and the Tribe, the classic John Rowles, a well-polished Vince Harder with Sweet and Sour, the Pride of Auckland Chorus, Ben Lummis (NZ Idol Winner), the Royal NZ Navy Maori Culture Group, as well an outstanding Cook Island group from Mangere College.

From the opening scene by the Royal NZ Navy Maori Culture Group, I knew I was in for a great night. A frontline of Navy men and women, in standard white suits, gave a solemn welcome, alongside trumpets and marching, which then blended into a magnificent kapa haka performance in which the white suited Navy crew morphed into, still in uniform, in a parallel of the integration of Pacific and European communities in Aotearoa.

Following this somewhat formal performance came everyone’s favourite section, “Pasifika Body Art”. The MAC Make-up body-art section entrants did an outstanding job of painting men and women alike in a wide array of “attire” in a multitude of colours and designs, from a peacock-inspired deep blue glitter combo, Maui and the Sun, a Mahuika fire look , to “kiwiana” featuring a painted “Four Square” man. These brave, gorgeous naked women (and men) strutted their stuff among the murmours and whispers of those in the media section… “Are they real? They looking pretty sturdy among all that jiggling!” A mere aisle away from me was the Honorable Prime Minister John Key, who later claimed we should all be glad he wasn’t wearing body paint tonight! And that we were…

The Mangere College Cook Island Culture Group introduced Youthtown's “Traditionally Inspired” section, with an outstanding musical and dance performance throughout the entire display. Knit and Scottish plaid featured dominantly, signalling a mix of Pacific and European heritage. Among the best designs were Emma Clewlow-Anaru’s “Plastic Maori”, a short mini dress in a woven Maori pattern with a tail, and Mele Alamoni and Patricia Santo's white thigh high strapeless dress, featuring unique black Pacific designs attached in pop-out style.

Old skool cool The Herbs were a refreshing reggae sound to listen to live, as Max's “Three Piece collection” was presented; an interesting display of continuity in three different looks, which link from one garment to the next. Of outrageously hideous design was Charlotte Hazlitt’s three-piece, which included nasty knee length full skirts, with vomit green, thick wool jumpers (think Dumb and Dumber- at the ski lodge meeting the family in matching wook jerseys), combined with nun-style headwear. The opposite of fashion, in fact.

Of exceptional quality, of course, was that of Style Pasifika's overall winner, Nadeesha Godamunne, an amazing young designer, heading to Italy next week to compete in the Mittelmoda Fashion Awards; a huge feat for a young New Zealand woman. Her three-piece collection included minidresses combined with extreme shoulder pads, vibrant mixes of plaid and tie-dyed prints, collars, and ribbons, worn with a mix of bright and dark tights. A humble, gorgeous young woman, who was thrilled to win the Overall Award for design, at this year's Style Pasifika.

Other sections included Resene’s Asia Pasifika, a section known as “The Future of New Zealand”, which is looking forward, embracing the fact that NZ is part of Asia and not just Pasifika. This section was introduced by a Kungfu-dressed man on a flute, followed by seven Kungfu style intense drummers, producing a deep, fast beat which the models kept up with as they strutted up the catwalk. Shuai Zhangi’s “Buddha's Dream” design came out on top, with a gothic looking ensemble with thigh high black boots that would certainly arouse Buddha from his centuries' long slumber.

Following on was a wonderful, outlandish showcasing of the NZ Aids Foundation’s “Pasifika Hero”, featuring models of all sexualities, in terrifically outrageous attire, as we have all come to expect. Bernie Jackson created a “Kiwifruit” themed dress, while Lauren Standens’ platinum blonde model contrasted red with black. The overall winner of this flamboyant section was Jo Odgers’, with a sheer, see-through brown tight dress, snugly wrapped in large deep green fern leaves.

Flava’s Urban Pasifika Streetwear was a terrific display of creative hip Pacific style, with street appeal. This was showcased alongside a terrific, energy fuelled performance by Vince Harder with Sweet and Sour, who were having more fun than the audience. Winning the award in this section, and coming Highly Commended overall was Shenade Smith, a young Bay of Plenty Polytechnic student. Her winning piece was a shirt orange frilled dress worn with a cropped leather waistcoat, sporting a brown faux fur hood and fur trimmed heels. This young designer was “speechless” to receive this award but luckily Pete the Palagi was there to fill in the awkward gaps, commenting that her winning dress looked “expensive” and alerting everyone to his awesome $10 top from Cotton On!

The Schwarzkopf Pasifika Evening Wear showcased some beautiful, intrinsic design, including a floor length ball gown in black, featuring a large green sparkly frog wrapping around the bodice, with its hands grabbing the back of the model. The winner of this section was Vissesio Thomsen. We loved Angie Edgar's gorgeous light blue bandeau style dress, with a bohemian flavour, crimped skirt, cut shorter in the back. Delish! I want one!

Barkers Pasifika Menswear featured a variety of street and formal fashion, with swandri, tartan, hoods, cloaks and leg warmers displayed confidently. The winner was Donna Dinsdale, with a layered hooded jacket and black trimmed casual pants.

John Rowles, clad in a white shimmer jacket, opened the Pasifika Bridal Wear section with the Te Oranga Ake Chior backing him. This fantastic performance included his famous “Loving you, Loving me”, and “Cheryl Moana Marie”, as bridal clad models strutted their way through the choir, in a vast array of wedding attire. The winning design was actually a groom, which was a refreshing change; Trish Strongman's design included a men's dress jacket with a hood and pleated tail, made from a very kiwi bright red Swandri. This was worn with black pants, belted with rope.

A great end to the night was Te Puni Kokiris’ Parent and Child section, where adult and child strut the runway in matching attire, and young ones take the opportunity to crump, dance and look adorable. Swandri again featured predominantly along with shift dresses and floral. A blue Swandri check outfit won the parent and child category for designers Trja Pabbruwe and Paul Ledingham.

“Oh What a night”… the finale song to complete this epic evening of inspirational design and performance, nearly pulled me forcibly from my uncomfortable, yet well placed chair at the end of the catwalk, up onto the actual stage to join in the dance party with the collection of models, designers and NZ performers wiggling and wobbling their booties to this old skool track, in their eclectic mix of fashion. And Oh, what a night this was at the 2009 Westfield Style Pasifika. What more can I say?.... “I'm Speechless”.

Below, The runner-up prize went to Shenade Smith.



By Holly Jean Brooker, Septemer 2009.