BALL SEASON - OUR PASIFIKA PICKS

With Ball season in full swing, we've picked out some Pasifika designers from NZ, Australia, Fiji, Samoa and the US who do custom made ball dresses serving up stunning Pacific Island inspired looks.

Check them out below if you're needing an evening dress for a school ball, graduation or special occasion.

FOU CUSTOM-MADE

Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Fou custom makes outfits for any occasion and dresses made for every figure, shape & size. They're all about bringing out that confidence.

They're a small team based in central Auckland and are all Samoan! They like to step out of the box in their creations - mixing mainstream with pacific inspired patterns to give a Pacific edge.

Their values are based on proverbs 31v25 “she is clothed with dignity and strength & laughs without fear of the future” and they use this passage to bring out the confidence of those who wear their garments.

Facebook: Fou Custom Made

Instagram: @Fou_custommade

UNUFE DESIGN

Designer Amelia Unufe discovered her fascination for designs and merging cultural creations with modern styles during her high school years. She got her degree in fashion and design and slowly began to build up her business before launching her fashion label ‘Unufe Designs’.

Using historical meanings as an indication of cultural significance, a story is created within each garment, meaning each design has its own value of importance.

Facebook: Unufe Designs

Instagram: @unufedesigns

MASC - Make a Statement Clothing

Designer Sam Ioane Samau is an up & coming designer of both Womens and Menswear based in Auckland, New Zealand.

He loves expressing himself as a designer and hopes to make a career out of what he loves doing.

Facebook: MASC - Make a Statement Clothing

Instagram: @Mascfashion_

MASC - Make a Statement Clothing by Sam Samau

AFA AH LOO

Afa Ah Loo is a self-taught, self-made fashion designer, originally from Samoa and now based in the USA.

His aesthetic is mostly women’s evening wear and bridal but he also designs resort, urban street wear, and men’s wear.

Facebook: AFA AH LOO

Instagram: @afa.ahloo

ARILEI COUTURE

Designer Taupule Taufao is based in Samoa and makes custom dresses, evening wear and puletasi's. Samoans may recognise her designs which were worn by her daughter Miss Samoa 2015 Ariana Taufao and other contestants including the current Miss Samoas evening wear dress worn at Miss Pacific Islands in Fiji last year.

They mail orders worldwide.

Facebook: AriLei Couture

Instagram: @AriLei_Couture

SAMSON LEE FIJI

Samson Lee is the brains behind ‘Samson Lee Fiji’. The brand hit the market in 2015, concentrating on their online diaspora market and it’s grown from strength to strength.

“My brand is all about our Pacific richness, the colours, the culture, the people and in essence my take on fashion is celebrating the richness of all of that,” said Lee.

Facebook: Samson Lee Fiji

Instagram: @samsonleefiji

TAHIANO

Hans Wesche from Letogo Iva, Savai’i and Faleula, together with Alvis Augustine Meredith, from Vaimoso, are the creative force behind the fashion house.

Hans Wesche, whose Tokelaun roots inspired the name Tahiano, said the fashion house specialises in gowns which broadly covers wedding, ball and corporate wear. As a first in Samoa, they have also designed jumpsuits for men.

Facebook: Tahiano

Instagram: @_Tahiano_

EVANA COUTURE

Evana Couture brings Fresh New Flavour to Polynesian Fashion based in Sydney, Australia and were bought to the worlds attention when Parris Goebel wore a Evana Couture gown to the MTV Awards.

Each Collection line up is designed by Fashion Designer Priscilla Yarnelle and manufactured with quality materials and workmanship.

While maintaining the diverse mainstream trend, Evana infuses culture into everyday wear, bringing Polynesian Art to Mainstream, creating Trend for Polynesian Fashion.

Facebook: E'Vana Couture

Instagram: @evanacouturefashion

JOLIELEI

Based in Sydney, Australia JO’LI Elei is a family business, passed down three generations, stemming from the Stanley family to the Nio family.

They design hand Printed & Custom Made Clothing, bringing the Pacific to you through Pasifika Island prints and Island Wear — ' The Ways of the Islands'

Facebook: JO'LI ELEI

Instagram: @jolielei