August 22, 2016
Maori part of world indigenous fashion spectacular
Maori fashion designers can start thinking now about the portfolios they need to put together to gain entry to the first World Indigenous Fashion Week in Malaysia in October 2017.
Ata Te Kanawa from Miromoda, New Zealand’s representative on the newly-formed World Indigenous Fashion Council, says indigenous fashion groups like Miromoda are springing up around the world, so it will be a great chance to compare notes.
The Maori sector has an edge on the other countries represented because it is already embedded into the mainstream through its participation in New Zealand Fashion Week.
Ms Te Kanawa says while culture makes a difference, Miromoda doesn’t use it to constrain designers.
"Whether you use your cultural aesthetic or background in your design is completely up to you. We don't say to them we you must emblazon everything with kowhaiwhai, or anything like that. The only criteria for Miromoda is to whakapapa Maori," she says
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