Samson Lee wins Best Designer at National Fashion Awards

Samson Lee won the Vodafone Fiji Fashion Week Best Designer at the National Fashion Awards.

Lee was not present to receive his award but had sent an acknowledgement message to express his gratitude towards the team for appreciating his work.

Lee is currently in the United States preparing for a fashion show.

He also won the Fiji Fashion Week Hall of Fame 2023 along with Tracey Ann Farrington.

Farrington bagged five awards at the National Fashion Awards.

She says she started her journey in her 20s and has learnt so much under the guidance of Ellen Whippy-Knight that reflects her winning awards among the other talented designers.

She says during the COVID-19 pandemic she re-assessed herself and worked with her team to upskill her designs.

She won the Sustainable Impact and Development, Excellence in Fashion Commerce, People's Choice 2023 and Fiji Fashion Week Managing Director's Special Recognition awards.

Managing Director of Fiji Fashion Week, Ellen Whippy-Knight says such awards are to recognize the efforts of the designers which creates healthy competition in the industry.

Whippy-Knight says this enhances the designers to learn and upgrade the work they do.

She further says Fiji can expect a Fashion School but did not disclose any other details.

Meanwhile, Atelaite Daunibau won the Fiji Fashion Week Innovative Textile and Print Award, Sunia Tubuna and Atelaite Daunibau won the Progressive Development in a Fashion Business Award, Atelaite Daunibau won the Rising Star Award, Watisoni Mataki won the Emerging Male Model Award, Akini Dauqau won the Male Model of the Year Award, Alisha Idana won the Emerging Female Model Award, Sera Volavola won the Female Model of the Year Award, Evlyn Mani won the Fashion Icon Award and Teresa Tuicaumia won the Best Menswear Award.