Contemporary Rotuman Artists

Michael Mausio

From Fijitimes Online (6 July 2011) Making big waves by Frederica Elbourne Aspiring fashion designer Michael Mausio Picture: Elike Nukutabu IN the name of climate change, a fashion designer is working around the clock to ensure his label reflects just that. More so for 20-year-old Michael Mausio is the fact that he wants his range of clothes worn as part of the Pacific daily wear. "All my labels will always have a connection to climate change, so much so that my next range is called Val, which means ocean or wave in Rotuman," he said. In pursuit of an award at the upcoming Crest Fashion Show, Michael has prepared three garments which took him four months to put together. The lack of material had forced him to change the designs in his strive for perfection. "I will not let a garment out on the catwalk if the threading is wrong or the colour combination is not to what I want," he said. And while he dreams big, he is prepared to accept that it all begins with the small things as he works his way up the ladder of the fashion industry. "It's a slow but sure step. Planning to me is very important and this industry requires a lot of capital which is something hard to come by these days," he said. "And so good planning and management is required to be somewhere in this industry because the best designers are the worst business people ù it's a proven fact among international designers," Michael said. Communicating the significance of climate change through fashion and art is a matter that will generate a lot of interest, he said. "I don't think the fashion industry has the recognition it deserves," he said. "It needs more energy and cash flow to boost it as there are so many young and talented people in the Pacific that have raw talent to be on par with international designers." He says the local fashion industry needs international support from fashion houses in New Zealand and Australia. "We need government grants and support from the local business community. "We need people to come out and support us and our local talents. We need all these to bring out the masters of fashion that we are, that we have."