Emerging designer aims to establish himself despite challenges

Emerging designer aims to establish himself despite challenges

By Rashika Kumar
27/05/2022
Laisiasa Davetawalu

Laisiasa Davetawalu who as a passionate 15-year-old boy took part in the Fiji Fashion Week sulu-jaba competition 10 years ago is now working for one of Australia’s leading clothing brands and is also one of the very first iTaukei students to graduate from the Fashion Design Studio in Sydney.

Davetawalu who graduated with a Bachelor of Fashion and Design earlier this year says his journey in establishing himself began when he skipped school in Form 5 and walked into the Fiji Fashion Week office.

He says he took part in the 2018 Fiji Fashion Week as an emerging designer after which Managing Director, Ellen Whippy-Knight took him under her wings and got him into the fashion school.

The 24-year-old says he felt home sick in Sydney because he had never left his family for a long time and it was hard to keep going, make new friends, start again and adjust to the new environment.

Davetawalu also says it was also challenging to get a job to support himself and even though Whippy-Knight was supporting him, it was nice to have some extra money which is why he took up gardening and other jobs around the neighbourhood.

He says he started working for Zimmerman when they had sent out an expression of interest for students looking for weekend job and only 5 of them got a reply.

The young fashion designer further says he has been with Zimmerman since November last year and it was only meant for a week but he is still there and he is enjoying it.

He says he will be showcasing 8 of his original looks from his graduate collection and an additional 12 looks.

Davetawalu further says they are working on Zimmerman’s resort collection at work which will be shot on Sunday and he has been working on his collection at night.

He says he wants to see himself growing in the industry and starting his own brand after learning the ropes at Zimmerman in the next five years.

The Kadavu lad adds for anyone who wants to make it into the industry, they need to work hard, believe in themselves and stay true to who they really are.

The 15th Fiji Fashion Week titled FJFWxPalmolive 2022 will be live on FM96 Instagram page.

The Resort Cruise Runway will be today and the Resort Luxe Runway will be on tomorrow. The shows are expected to start at 6pm at the Vodafone Arena.

This will be the 15th anniversary for the Fiji Fashion Week and tickets are still available. For bookings tickets@fijifashionweek.com.fj

FEATURE NEWS
PM visits Robertson Road and tells Police to intensify patrols
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka visited the site at Robertson Road in Suva where some minors have been seen injecting drugs like experts. fijivilla...
5 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
New water pipe system worth more than $3,000 commissioned at Naloto District School
Students of Naloto District School in Ba will no longer have to drink from water tanks after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka commissioned a new water ...
3 hours ago

New bridge brings hope and connectivity to Bua communities
More than 800 people in the communities of Dalomo, Lomanikoro, and Tiliva in Bua may soon have safer and quicker access to schools, farms, health ...
3 hours ago

$650 per acre relief package for burnt sugarcane farms – Minister for Sugar
Sugarcane farmers who have been affected by off-season fires will be given a one-off rehabilitation package of $650 per acre of sugarcane ...
3 hours ago

Tudravu calls on parents to put away their phones and prioritize time with their kids
A strong message was delivered by the Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu to parents during the Nadroga Arya College pass-out parade to put away ...
6 hours ago

Dr Lalabalavu says kids doing drugs in public in Suva a stark reminder of the drug crisis
Minister for Health, Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says the video circulating of a group of what looks like kids doing drugs in public at Robertson ...
7 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Ben Salacakau and Glenis Yee on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show focuses on the gaps in Fiji’s education system and what needs to be done, the pressure on committee run schools to keep the schools ...
1 day ago

Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s coach Osea Kolinisau on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Osea Kolinisau on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
4 days ago

Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Vimlesh Sagar’s abuse of office case
Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of general dishonesty causing a loss while Vimlesh Sagar is charged with one ...
4 days ago

TOP