Transcript
Anna Amos from Papua New Guinea said her inspiration comes from traditional items such as Stone Axe, Kundu drums, shields, spears, plants and patterns.
The Simbu native said she hoped to bring alive her country's tradition and love for colours on the runway.
"We are from a country where we are very colourful people, Papua New Guinea, with different kinds of traditional elements. And through our face-painting, in our bilas, the traditional costumes and even the landscape of our beautiful country. So I tried to look at all these things and then incorporate them with contemporary wear."
For Tongan Leiola Finau-Rakau, 31, it's a dream come true to represent Vanuatu at this year's show.
She moved to Port Vila with her husband and children four years ago and they now call it home.
Vanuatu was a rich and diverse country and her collection includes clothing and handicraft depicting the Pacific nation's cultural and modern twist on fashion, she said.
"The prints on my garments, I use those Vanuatu cultural tattoos and the plants, leaves and things from Vanuatu. So I use it and combine it inside my collection. Some things like the coconut husk and my ear-rings and the flowers - that's all from Vanuatu."
Ms Finau-Rakau says this is her first appearance at an international fashion show and she is proud to showcase the culture and people of Vanuatu.
Elaine Maepio, 59, from the Solomon Islands has never been to a fashion show before.
Her mother taught her to sew when she was 12 years-old and she hoped her grandchildren would follow her.
"I do clothing and small crafts like flowers. The materials that come to our country and I hand-print them. So it's mix of plain and printed ones. I do fabric painting and I teach women around the Solomons."
Ms Maepio, who runs a store in Honiara, said her creations had also been inspired by the missionaries who taught her mother.
The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show kicks off this Saturday 5 October from 6pm at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau.
