When the Kukis met Kate

Island royalty met with British royalty yesterday as one of the most esteemed queens of Kuki Airani tivaevae told the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton about this unique Pacifica art form. 

Yesterday Buckingham palace was host to some unique Pasifika flavour and flair as mamas from the Tuvalu Artists collective and traditional Kuki Airani artists took their creations to the big house along with other Pacific designers from Samoa, Tonga and Melanesia. 

The innovative new Commonwealth Fashion Exchange project saw indigenous artists around the world pair up with some of the most famous creatives in the business. 

Its aim of the project was to promote cross-cultural exchange and raise the profile of “devalued and vulnerable” handwork skills, something that has been the perfect kaupapa for the Kuki Airani mamas and the Tuvaluan Arts collective alike.

73 year old Tukua Turia, a renowned tivaevae artist made her co-pro gown creation with noted kiwi designer Karen Walker, which was on show at the Buckingham Palace event yesterday.

Turia worked with Karen Walkers design team to make the graphics of her tivaevae flowers sewn onto the dusky pink gown. 

With 12 different designs used to create a profusion of flowers found all over the Pacific — the piece took over 1000 hours to assemble by team that included the Kuki ‘Airani Creative Mamas, and a 91-year-old Ana Akatu Taea. 

The skills of the Tuvaluan Arts collective and their extraordinary 'Kolose' designs also took to the world stage at the Fashion exchange, as a group of mama's were also chosen for the prestigious event, journeying to the Queens house to showcase their unique crochet work amongst the best in the world. Tagata Pasifika presenter Marama Papau also repped with the Kolose artists as a proud Tuvaluan from Aotearoa.  

Samoan couture designer Afa Ah loo was also part of the unique project and instagrammed about the reaction to his work from some of the most notorious names in the global fashion industry including Anna Wintour of the 'Devil Wears Prada' fame. 

Afa said in a Facebook post - 

"Here she is in all her glory inside the Buckingham Palace! A day never to be forgotten and definitely one for the books! Thank you to Ofeira and Margie for helping me in collaborating with the flowers on the back of the dress! Kate Middleton, Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour (if you don’t know who she is, you should watch the movie “Devil Wears Prada” because it’s about her) most definitely approved of it! And so did everyone else that was there. They all commented on how colorful and how happy it made them feel. I’m blessed and humbled beyond words for this great honor!
Thank you everyone for your love and support!"

The other Island designers repping for their countries are: 
TONGA X NAURU | Bou Fonua x Rendina Edwards
FIJI X VANUATU + THE SEYSCHELLES | Hupfeld Hoerder Designs x Tousong Kalsong – Liza Garo – Marie Rorou x Anna & Rolan Payet
AUSTRALIA X SOLOMON ISLANDS | KitX x Pasifik Creations