To provide a platform for local Designers to show their creative skills, to encourage the proliferation of globally competitive fashion design and in turn drive export receipts via international demand for our local designs.

Improved resources, planning, and a best practice approach have established FJFW as a premier event on Fiji’s social calendar. It has also launched the careers for many aspiring fashion designers and models.

It is the key driver in the establishment of small to medium business enterprises, introduced new fashion related businesses, created fashion associated employment opportunities not previously known in Fiji. FJFW has had a positive and direct effect on the development of an interactive Fashion industry.

The industry development

We also provided the IP and platform and assisted in the introduction of Fashion Weeks firstly in Port Moresby, the Solomon Islands and Samoa. It is also the platform from which Pacific diaspora have launched independent satellite shows mainly in the UK, Australia, NZ and USA.

Selected Designers from USA, Europe, India, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific have all participated in FJFW alongside our own local designers since 2008, Likewise Fijian Designers have also participated in fashion weeks across the globe.

The Recognitions

FJFW is recognised as a “Founding Member” of the inaugural Commonwealth Fashion Council based in London. Ellen Whippy-Knight attended the launch of the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange held in Buckingham Palace in February 2018.

Ellen was also responsible for creating the Fashion Council of Fiji on which she served as a Vice President and Committee Member. She also created the Fijian Fashion Foundation as a platform to raise funds to send Fiji students to Australia to study Fashion and Design. In May 2017, the Fashion Council of Fiji presented her with a Special Achievement Award at FJFW’s 10th year anniversary.

The Fashion and Design Education

FJFW is proud of its role in the development of Fashion and Design education in Fiji. We have a major focus on Fashion education due to the lack of a central Design facility in Fiji. Therefore we invited Fashion educators from the UK, Australia and New Zealand who attend to run a series of Fashion and Design workshops. We have also sent Fijian Designers to attend short courses in Australia. A Fijian emerging designer Laisiasa Davetawalu is currently in his 3rd and final year of a Bachelor of Fashion and Design in Sydney. He is sponsored by the Fijian Fashion Foundation.