Designer Development in Fiji - Lai Davetawalu
This Go Fund Me was set up to help raise funds to support a fantastic group of six emerging designers in Fiji (photographed below) being mentored by fashion educator Nicholas Huxley (far right), as they prepared to show their debut collections at Fiji Fashion Week 2018.
It has been updated to follow the journey of Laisiasa Davetawalu (second from right) and his attempts to complete his degree in Fashion Design.
Nic's 6 Pack, 2018
From this outstanding group, two designers have so far gone on to win the category of FJFW Emerging Designer of the Year - Laisiasa (Lai) Davetawalu (second from right) (2018) and Kess Baleirara (third from right) (2019). Their prize - a scholarship to study fashion in Australia.
Lai started his Bachelor of Fashion Design at The Fashion and Design Studio, Ultimo TAFE, Sydney in 2018. Kess has been unable to start her studies due to travel restrictions COVID.
So let’s side track to COVID - which is the reason why this page has been restarted. The scholarships provided to Lai and Kess are funded through the annual Bula Ball held in Sydney and arranged by the Fijian Fashion Foundation. It is not possible for the ball to go ahead this year so the main source of fundraising for the scholarships won’t happen.
This is going to have a significant impact on Lai.
About Laisiasa Davetawalu
Elaradi on the runway at Fiji Fashion Week
Remember that name because he has ambitions to become a successful fashion designer with his label Elaradi .
Lai always wanted to be a designer, even when he knew that this was going to be a challenge in a culture where the creative arts isn’t a career choice. He knew he would face conflict and criticism but his love for designing, creating and inspiring was stronger.
His story is one of success and hard work. In 2016, Lai entered and won Student Designer of the Year at Fiji Fashion Week. He created a hand beaded and hand printed 4 piece capsule collection which was a competition stand out.
In 2018, Lai won the category of Emerging Designer of the Year and the accolades of Nicholas Huxley, the former Head of Fashion at The Fashion Design Studio Sydney. Lai’s prize was a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Fashion Design if he could gain entrance to the course.
The selection panel were pleasantly surprised when they viewed his exquisite garments. His application was accepted and he was given a scholarship by the Fijian Fashion Foundation to cover visa, fees and accommodation in Sydney, Australia.
Lai has completed 18 months years of his 3 year course. His results are amazing - Distinctions and High Distinctions - an incredible achievement given the course is delivered in English which is his second language. In July he received 98 out of 100 - a High Distinction; for a study “Design Specialty Market” based on the cultural work of a woman’s Creative Centre in Laos.
While studying, Lai has interned for renowned designers, Akira Isogawa and Yousef Akbar , both of whom are impressed by his drive and creativity. To help pay his Uni fees, Lai puts time aside to take on odd jobs gardening, cleaning and creating home furnishings for sale.
Elaradi Homewear, available to order here
It has been a fairy tale ride for Lai which came to an abrupt halt with COVID. The Fijian Fashion Foundation has been unable to hold its annual fundraising event to cover the fees, his family are financially unable to support him and now he is faced with being unable to complete his degree. It would be a wasted opportunity for this very talented emerging designer.
Elaradi collection, Fiji Fashion Week 2019
Will you help him reach his goal?
In return for your donation or sponsorship, Lai will provide his incredible talent to thank you for your support, by giving you a special rate should you ever need him to sew you a bespoke garment or home furnishing of your choice. Supporting Lai will mean that he can complete his studies and his skills and qualifications to build his future and to support his family living in Fiji.
In the event that sufficient funds are raised to cover Lai’s fees, the remainder will be directed towards the scholarship for Kess Baleirara.
The hope in reaching out to like-minded supporters and philanthropists, is to enable these exciting new designers to kick start them on the road to their own SME.
About the fashion industry in Fiji
Fiji is a developing economy blessed with many naturally talented and creative designers with very limited access to materials and resources as well as little in the way of funding institutions focussed on the creative industries.
There is no formal tertiary training in Fashion and as a result, there are very few trained designers, although there are a number of successful small businesses.
Fiji Fashion Week (FJFW) has contributed to developing a burgeoning fashion industry within Fiji and the Pacific and has been an integral player in promoting designers at home and internationally.
We recognise that access to formal training is imperative to developing the technical and design skills needed to achieve success in the industry and have been a key stakeholder in establishing fashion education curricula in Fiji in secondary schools as well as Fiji National University. FJFW believes the goals of supporting entrepreneurship and creating sustainable livelihoods for Fijian designers is a community goal for the greater good.
The vision is to nurture designers into sustainable businesses that will meet world-class fashion industry standards. Fiji already has an established international garment manufacturing industry poised to take a break-out Fijian designer onto the world stage.
About the Nic’s 6 Pack
In January 2018, 36 designers attended a fashion business and design workshop presented by fashion educators, trainers and agents (Nicholas Huxley, Fiona Lloyd and Phoebes Garland) who generously mentored the group, giving of their time and expertise in the lead up to Fiji Fashion Week 2018.
From this group the “Nick’s 6Pack” stand-out designers went on to complete a three month mini-design course to prepare for their debut show on the main runway at FJFW on Friday 25 May 2018.
Their participation in Fiji Fashion Week 2018 was funded through the generous donations received through this campaign.
Purpose of the Developing Designers in Fiji GFM
This fund is pledged to assist emerging and talented designers build a career and develop viable brands with:
1. further support formal fashion education and training by sponsoring or subsidising costs for students to study within Fiji or overseas;
2. support capacity building in business development for emerging and established designers so that they can fully participate as small and medium enterprises in this developing fashion economy
3. assist designers to learn sustainable fashion and design practices in order to develop cost-effective businesses which have minimal impact on the environment
4. subsidise designer participation in local, regional and international trade shows and fashion events, including assistance with developing their marketing and branding tools
5. continue to bring fashion educators to Fiji
About Fiji Fashion Week
Fiji Fashion Week is the Pacific's premier fashion event and platform for emerging designers. Throughout its 12 year history, the team at Fiji Fashion Week has been supporting designer development by providing subsidised fees for designers to participate in international fashion events such as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia and Los Angeles Fashion Week; bringing fashion educators to Fiji to help train and develop designers through seminars and workshops; as well as providing ongoing mentoring for designers and creative industries.
The next Fiji Fashion Week will be held from 7 - 14 November in Suva, Fiji Islands.
Fiji Fashion Week Website
Fiji Fashion Week Instagram
It has been updated to follow the journey of Laisiasa Davetawalu (second from right) and his attempts to complete his degree in Fashion Design.
Nic's 6 Pack, 2018From this outstanding group, two designers have so far gone on to win the category of FJFW Emerging Designer of the Year - Laisiasa (Lai) Davetawalu (second from right) (2018) and Kess Baleirara (third from right) (2019). Their prize - a scholarship to study fashion in Australia.
Lai started his Bachelor of Fashion Design at The Fashion and Design Studio, Ultimo TAFE, Sydney in 2018. Kess has been unable to start her studies due to travel restrictions COVID.
So let’s side track to COVID - which is the reason why this page has been restarted. The scholarships provided to Lai and Kess are funded through the annual Bula Ball held in Sydney and arranged by the Fijian Fashion Foundation. It is not possible for the ball to go ahead this year so the main source of fundraising for the scholarships won’t happen.
This is going to have a significant impact on Lai.
About Laisiasa Davetawalu
Elaradi on the runway at Fiji Fashion WeekRemember that name because he has ambitions to become a successful fashion designer with his label Elaradi .
Lai always wanted to be a designer, even when he knew that this was going to be a challenge in a culture where the creative arts isn’t a career choice. He knew he would face conflict and criticism but his love for designing, creating and inspiring was stronger.
His story is one of success and hard work. In 2016, Lai entered and won Student Designer of the Year at Fiji Fashion Week. He created a hand beaded and hand printed 4 piece capsule collection which was a competition stand out.
In 2018, Lai won the category of Emerging Designer of the Year and the accolades of Nicholas Huxley, the former Head of Fashion at The Fashion Design Studio Sydney. Lai’s prize was a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Fashion Design if he could gain entrance to the course.
The selection panel were pleasantly surprised when they viewed his exquisite garments. His application was accepted and he was given a scholarship by the Fijian Fashion Foundation to cover visa, fees and accommodation in Sydney, Australia.
Lai has completed 18 months years of his 3 year course. His results are amazing - Distinctions and High Distinctions - an incredible achievement given the course is delivered in English which is his second language. In July he received 98 out of 100 - a High Distinction; for a study “Design Specialty Market” based on the cultural work of a woman’s Creative Centre in Laos.
While studying, Lai has interned for renowned designers, Akira Isogawa and Yousef Akbar , both of whom are impressed by his drive and creativity. To help pay his Uni fees, Lai puts time aside to take on odd jobs gardening, cleaning and creating home furnishings for sale.
Elaradi Homewear, available to order here It has been a fairy tale ride for Lai which came to an abrupt halt with COVID. The Fijian Fashion Foundation has been unable to hold its annual fundraising event to cover the fees, his family are financially unable to support him and now he is faced with being unable to complete his degree. It would be a wasted opportunity for this very talented emerging designer.
Elaradi collection, Fiji Fashion Week 2019Will you help him reach his goal?
In return for your donation or sponsorship, Lai will provide his incredible talent to thank you for your support, by giving you a special rate should you ever need him to sew you a bespoke garment or home furnishing of your choice. Supporting Lai will mean that he can complete his studies and his skills and qualifications to build his future and to support his family living in Fiji.
In the event that sufficient funds are raised to cover Lai’s fees, the remainder will be directed towards the scholarship for Kess Baleirara.
The hope in reaching out to like-minded supporters and philanthropists, is to enable these exciting new designers to kick start them on the road to their own SME.
About the fashion industry in Fiji
Fiji is a developing economy blessed with many naturally talented and creative designers with very limited access to materials and resources as well as little in the way of funding institutions focussed on the creative industries.
There is no formal tertiary training in Fashion and as a result, there are very few trained designers, although there are a number of successful small businesses.
Fiji Fashion Week (FJFW) has contributed to developing a burgeoning fashion industry within Fiji and the Pacific and has been an integral player in promoting designers at home and internationally.
We recognise that access to formal training is imperative to developing the technical and design skills needed to achieve success in the industry and have been a key stakeholder in establishing fashion education curricula in Fiji in secondary schools as well as Fiji National University. FJFW believes the goals of supporting entrepreneurship and creating sustainable livelihoods for Fijian designers is a community goal for the greater good.
The vision is to nurture designers into sustainable businesses that will meet world-class fashion industry standards. Fiji already has an established international garment manufacturing industry poised to take a break-out Fijian designer onto the world stage.
About the Nic’s 6 Pack
In January 2018, 36 designers attended a fashion business and design workshop presented by fashion educators, trainers and agents (Nicholas Huxley, Fiona Lloyd and Phoebes Garland) who generously mentored the group, giving of their time and expertise in the lead up to Fiji Fashion Week 2018.
From this group the “Nick’s 6Pack” stand-out designers went on to complete a three month mini-design course to prepare for their debut show on the main runway at FJFW on Friday 25 May 2018.
Their participation in Fiji Fashion Week 2018 was funded through the generous donations received through this campaign.
Purpose of the Developing Designers in Fiji GFM
This fund is pledged to assist emerging and talented designers build a career and develop viable brands with:
1. further support formal fashion education and training by sponsoring or subsidising costs for students to study within Fiji or overseas;
2. support capacity building in business development for emerging and established designers so that they can fully participate as small and medium enterprises in this developing fashion economy
3. assist designers to learn sustainable fashion and design practices in order to develop cost-effective businesses which have minimal impact on the environment
4. subsidise designer participation in local, regional and international trade shows and fashion events, including assistance with developing their marketing and branding tools
5. continue to bring fashion educators to Fiji
About Fiji Fashion Week
Fiji Fashion Week is the Pacific's premier fashion event and platform for emerging designers. Throughout its 12 year history, the team at Fiji Fashion Week has been supporting designer development by providing subsidised fees for designers to participate in international fashion events such as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia and Los Angeles Fashion Week; bringing fashion educators to Fiji to help train and develop designers through seminars and workshops; as well as providing ongoing mentoring for designers and creative industries.
The next Fiji Fashion Week will be held from 7 - 14 November in Suva, Fiji Islands.
Fiji Fashion Week Website
Fiji Fashion Week Instagram
Organizer
Fiji Fashion Week
Organizer
Vaucluse, NSW