COVER: top models for the Patrick Cameron hair show segment. WELLA DESIGN AWARDS 1994.

Date: July 15th 1994
Venue, Sheraton Fiji, Denarau Island

“Project ’91 was a charity to raise* funds for a hospital in Nadi, as well as medical equipment and supplies. The show was originally supposed to be a hair show, sponsored by WELLA.

It was the founder’s idea to also feature fashion, to up the glam-ante, and as I was the model with the highest and multi-genre profile, I was asked to join the committee as the Creative Director of the show. Fiji has had a glamorous elite, colonial BUT multicultural fashion scene since the 60s, its society was used to exclusive and prestigious [infrequent] fashion shows. I was discovered by fashion industry icons of the 80s [women doing significant, trailblazing, fabulous things in media and fashion] who supported, promoted and gave the already bright stars the stages to shine brighter.

I talk about this in WHAT WAS IT LIKE SERIES.

I was a major part of fashion in Fiji late 80s to late 90s, the most well-known model, a household name albeit because of my TV, radio and singing careers as well. All of these industries overlapped and coordinated in positive ways back then (plus the newspapers were my fabulous publicists! Very cool).

By 1994 shows had become more accessible to the wanting-sophisticated-modern-experiences public. Weekly/monthly/mid-week lunchtime exclusive shows were happening, primarily in troppo-politan Suva, mainly at the [outside of Suva city] Tradewinds Hotel. The ahead of its time label/on-site boutique Image, founded by a Suva based veteran top model, ran the shows, featuring all the top Suva boutiques and labels, their latest stock, many their latest designs (Fiji’s designers back then were WOW), modelled by the top models, newbies and “supers”.

The All Blacks used to stay at the Tradewinds around this time. Fiji’s beautiful people and societywallas AND Rugby elite? Yes, Tradewinds was THE scene to be seen.

The shows still combined fashion and music, dance as well, quite a lot of dance actually. Very entertaining and worldly, without sacrificing cultural influences, audiences liked being educated as well as entertained. I was in the thick of it, such exciting times! So I can safely say the WELLA DESIGN AWARDS was the first big, national collective, fashion event and it evolved the fashion industry. I didn’t start nor discover, I helped elevate an already full of creativity industry.

Fiji media legend Mere Lomaloma was the MC [and host when it aired on Fiji TV] and read out the garments stories while the models displayed and enhanced the garments.

I wrote/curated the garment descriptions. I talk about the talented designers, many, veterans of industry now; the TOP models of the time; international guest star, the eternally fabulous Patrick Cameron and his spectacular hair show (a glimpse shown); the life, times and actions in the 90s and WHY we went with a competition format for a fashion show… just a bit of Fiji’s modern, urban history, on STYLANDER.” – Sandhya Nand.