For the first time, people will get the opportunity to watch Fiji Fashion Week virtually and free of charge when it opens on November 22nd this year.
Managing Director, Ellen Whippy-Knight says her team recognised that while COVID-19 restrictions on physical events meant losing a uniquely exciting atmosphere, recent growth in internet and media technology create the perfect conditions to drive fashion forward.
She says their main objective is to create a retail platform for fashion designers and creatives in Fiji’s fashion industry.
The Managing Director says with the backing of sponsors Palmolive Fiji, they have worked with media partners, The Fiji Times, Fiji Television and Communications Fiji Limited to not just survive but to thrive outside of traditional media.
She says their media partners and long-time production vendors have come together to create a Fiji Fashion Week Virtual show where designers are basically running individual fashion shows in beautiful, uniquely Fijian locations without an audience and yet the broadcasting component means everyone gets the front row experience.
She adds with most people in Fiji, working from home and the event attire market drastically reduced, members of the Fijian diaspora in countries where the pandemic was relatively under control have contributed to much of the Fiji fashion sales in the pandemic.
She further says the obvious benefit to the designers means that for the first time ever, the content reach is wider than previous shows in this country and for now the only real benefit for FJFW is they can continue to learn from the innovations of their work.
Fiji Fashion Week Virtual will showcase the work of 15 designers where a combination of the best established and brightest new emerging designers will screen from November 22 – 27 on Fiji Television with simultaneous interactive digital events across a network of media partners and platforms.
