Feature: TAV At Air NZ Fashion Week

Ellana Tavioni, designer of the label TAV, put on a strongly Pacific influenced show. Based in the Cook Islands, her designs are trans-seasonal, flattering, and easy to wear. Although some pieces in the collection were too bold for everyday wear, many garments were subtly printed and worked well matched with black tops.

The pure showmanship was a delight beginning with traditional Polynesian music and dance, followed by a “tribe” in a boat who dispersed as the models began showing the collection.

Taking us on a journey, the outfits began with warm rusty colours hand block-printed and hand painted on garments. Tavioni finds inspiration from the tropical environment and Polynesian traditions, which gives her pieces a strong point of difference.

Printed floor-length dresses, skirts, wraps and swimwear were offset by sold black panels and tops. Skirts were often ruffled and tops off the shoulder. Men wore signature printed suiting, straight leg jeans matched with printed tees, and wide-leg drawstring printed pants.

The show continued moving through a range of colourful tropical patterns. White wedding-style dresses were later introduced before more summery designs. Sky blue, canary yellow, purple and turquoise were used to create youthful summer dresses.

A favourite of the collection was a very wearable body hugging dress subtly printed in purple colour tones with bell-sleeve arms. Cropped cardigans in primary red and black were a simple overpiece suitable for any outfit.

Concluding the show all the models (believe me there were a lot of them!) began dancing on the catwalk and then beckoned those in the front row to join them for a groove –which many did!

Pia Christiansen

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