Janet Sios

Chairperson Janet Sios made this known at the launch of the PNG Fashion Festival on Saturday.

The PNG Fashion & Design Week launched the 2019 fashion festival as well as their website yesterday afternoon at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby.

Sharing some of their success stories, Sios said each year, their runway attracts about 300 guests, providing a platform for PNG designers to showcase their work.

This year, it’s a walk to talk climate change.

PNG Fashion and Design Week will be hosting its runway from the 5^th to 7^th October with the theme: Fashion x Climate Change.

Incoming CEO Christopher Lam said climate change is a pressing issue that needed to be further known, hence the theme.

He noted PNG, as an island nation, is facing the issue mostly through rising sea levels and unpredictable weather patterns.

Founder and director of Pacific Runway Fashion, Failepou Peni today announced the partnership of the two bodies.

Pacific Runway Fashion, staged annually in Australia, was formed to recognise and give a prestigious platform for designers of the Pacific at large, also to put a mark on its Australian Fashion Calendar. 

Director Peni said, the partnership now means that PNG designers, through PNGFW, automatically secure a place on this platform.

TPA CEO, Jerry Angus highlights the close similarities between the two industries, saying they can work along.

He says like tourism, fashion is based on culture, ultimately wants to sell, has a niche market and gives a sense of self-identity.

Speaking at the first day of workshop organised by PNG Fashion Week yesterday, the CEO pledged TPA’s support behind PNGFW’s initiative.

The desire here is to bring different aspects of the PNG culture on the runway that will go on to attract international recognition.

The event will feature seven dynamic, young and upcoming designers, who will use this platform to launch their brands, and embark down a new journey for the first time ever.

The event will start with a three-day workshop at Holiday Inn from August 17 – 19.

The one year old television station in PNG teamed up with the committee only last week, for a three year contract.

Announcing the partnership yesterday at the newly built Stanley Hotel and Suites, Ruth Kekedo of Click TV said this move is to promote PNG culture.

“This is a wonderful synergy to provide a good platform for PNG to promote our culture and that’s one thing that Click- TV embraces – the promotion of PNG culture,” Kekedo said.