Westfield Style Pasifika Supreme Award Winner

September 5, 2005

‘Elegant Classy Witty’ – Westfield Style Pasifika Supreme Award Winner For 2005

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A brilliantly designed and constructed garment made from cleverly conceived coconut shell rings and branded ‘Cocomono’ as homage to Asia Pasifika - is the ONE Supreme Award winner for the Westfield Style Pasifika 2005 Fashion Award held in Auckland on Friday 2nd September and opened by the Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark.

Created by Auckland designer Lindah Lepou, the garment has as its inspiration a combination of the Japanese Kimono combined with Samoan natural resources.

The judges, who were unanimous in their decision, described the winning piece as “taking on international design house themes and rendering them with a pacific twist – elegant, classy and witty, a well considered, well executed, edgy interpretation of the brief.”

The judges also recognised that in the case of Lindah Lepou, it was as much a body of work - with two winning categories and a finalist - as much as any one garment.

Lindah Lepou who describes herself as “fa’afafine extraordinare”, was a finalist in three categories of the Westfield Style Pasifika this year and a winner in two. Her winning garment was from the Resene Asia Pasifika category. She also won the Tahiti Tourisme Bridal and was a finalist in Oyster Traditionally Inspired.

The Pasifika Fashion and Arts Trust Overall Highly Commended Award went to Natalia Choe whose garment “Pacific Princess” is the winner of the Evening Wear category. The garment is inspired by Samoan Tapa dress in the European style of the early 1900’s. “I expressed feminism by the shape of the dress and the traditional look with panels, shell and feathers.”

Commenting on the unique Pacific fusion that is the influence for Westfield Style Pasifika fashion – the judges said it is exciting to see a modern approach to the themes of Pasifika and for those judging for the first time they were astonished by the huge diversity and creativity.

“The originality and quality of the entries is fantastic, reflecting the vibrance and energy that is the Pacific melding the future and the traditional – this year is certainly one of the best as a true celebration of our Pacific influence and we are certainly proud to be part of it” said John Widdup Director Westfield New Zealand.

Westfield Style Pasifika is in its 12th year and is directed and produced by Stan Wolfgramm of Drum Productions.

LINDAH LEPOU

Lindah Lepou has had a couture label for women for a number of years called Dencium Compri. She has spent most of her fashion career researching and mastering what she believes to be our unique identity in the fashion industry, Polynesian culture.

Lindah has focused on combining feminine and masculine, conventional and non-conventional, cultural and minority with mainstream influences. She plans to launch internationally in the next year.

ENTRIES AND OVERVIEW

The 85 finalists for Westfield Style Pasifika 2005 were selected from almost 300 entries. The entries were from all over New Zealand as well as the Pacific Island and Australia.

In the 12 years since Style Pasifika first began it has become a uniquely New Zealand fashion, cultural and arts event. It draws together all the influences and elements which make up the New Zealand community and presents them in an immensely entertaining and accessible way. It has done an enormous amount to promote young designers, artists, musicians and dancers and their work, which has grown in strength and confidence and originality each year.

JUDGES

Oscar winning ‘Lord of the Rings’ costume designer Ngila Dickson is a new judge for the Westfield Style Pasifika Fashion Award as is Chris Cherry of Workshop.

They have been joined by previous judges Liz Mitchell; Frances Hooper and Denise L’Estrange – Corbet from World and Marilyn Kohlase from Creative New Zealand, to complete the challenging task of selecting finalists and a winner.

SUPREME AWARD

The ONE Supreme Award is in association with Fashion Industry New Zealand. Cash Award $3000 plus a Fashion Industry New Zealand Mentoring Package and a trip for two to Tahiti.

“When you go to a Style Pasifika show you know you couldn't be anywhere else in the world but New Zealand,” said CEO of TVNZ Ian Fraser, “and that is certainly what we are all about.”

Fashion Industry New Zealand - the representative organisation for the country’s fashion sector and wider apparel industry - has put together an extensive industry mentoring programme, which will see the Supreme Award winner receive one-on-one access to fashion specialists as part of a total prize package valued at NZ$15,000.

The recipient of the Supreme Award in association with Fashion Industry New Zealand will be guided through everything from range development, marketing and sales, to business planning and, most importantly, how to get the goods produced and delivered intact and on time.

“All of the firms that contributed to this industry package for the
Supreme Award are partners and members of Fashion Industry New Zealand. And, an initiative like this is only made possible by way of collaboration between like-minded people, who are passionate about the industry and its future," says Fashion Industry New Zealand chief executive, Mapihi Opai.

WINNERS OVERALL AND CATEGORIES

TV ONE in association with FINZ Supreme Award - Lindah Lepou/ Sandringham/ Auckland. Cash Award $3000 plus a Fashion Industry New Zealand Mentoring Package and a trip for two to Tahiti.

Overall Highly Commended - Natalia Choe / Auckland Cash Award $1000.plus a trip for two to Tahiti from Tahiti Tourisme.

All category winners receive a $1000 Cash Award.

Creative NZ Body Art – Phil Du Chard

Oyster Entertainment Traditionally Inspired - Sisifa Fifita / Mt Roskill / Auckland

Resene Asia Pasifika - Lindah Lepou / Sandringham / Auckland

FashionNZ Three Piece Collection -Ahi Kolose / Massey / Auckland

NZ Aids Foundation Pasifika Hero - Jennifer Jones / Massey / Auckland Flava 96.One Urban Streetwear - Lisa Hansen / Christchurch

Poynter Menswear - Vinci Gin-nen and Fale Rodney / Mt Albert / Auckland

Cut Above Pasifika Evening Wear - Natalia Choe / Auckland

Tahiti Tourisme Pasifika Bridal - Lindah Lepou / Sandringham / Auckland

Spasifik Magazine Parent and Child - Corrine Te Whata / Manukau / Auckland

ENDS

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