At the conclusion of another dramatic showcase of colour, texture, design and performance, AUT fashion graduate Nadeesha Godamunne, was crowned supreme winner of the 15th Westfield Style Pasifika Awards with her three-piece collection “Trompe L’oeil”. Another first-time entrant, Shenade Smith from Tauranga, was runner-up with a garment that paid homage to Sir Edmund Hillary. Little known first timer, William Jakk from Papua New Guinea, took out the MAC Body Art category with a design titled “Snake People”. Nadeesha Godamunne now heads to Italy to compete in the Mittelmoda Fashion Awards as part of her prize for winning the 2009 Southern Trust iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards. (Image from the Spasifik Magazine Website)
Other winners were:
Youthtown Traditionally Inspired
Winner: Mele Alamoni & Patricia Santos (Glen Eden, Auckland); Runner up: Tallulah Filloy (Queensland)
Resene Asia Pasifika
Winner: Shuai Zhangi (Te Aro, Wellington); Runner up: Donna Dinsdale and Debra Laraman (Te Puke)
MAX Three Piece Collection of Day Wear
Winner: Nadeesha Godamunne (Remuera, Auckland) ; Runner up: Caroleena Bingham (Glenfield, Auckland)
NZAF-PPP Pasifika Hero
Winner: Jo Odgers (Mt Maunganui); Runner up: Candy Elsmore (Mt Albert, Auckland)
Flava 96.1 Urban Street Wear
Winner: Shenade Smith (Tauranga); Runner up: Andre Tamblyn-Johnston (Gore)
Barkers Pasifika Menswear
Winner: Donna Dinsdale (Te Puke); Runner up: Ana Draca (Hillcrest, Hamilton)
Schwarzkopf Evening Wear
Winner: Visesio Thomsen (Manurewa, Auckland); Runner up: Angie Edgar (Tauranga)
Pacific Blue Pasifika Bridal
Winner: Trish Strongman (Mt Maunganui); Runner up: Jacinta Fitzgerald (Mt Maunganui)
Te Puni Kōkiri Parent & Child
Winner: Amiria Skipwith (Papatoetoe, Auckland); Runner up: Tarja Pabbruwe (Swanson, Auckland)
